LEADER OF THE HOUSE

English Wine

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Leader of the House if he will ensure that English wine is made available at dinners, receptions and parties he hosts at which hospitality involving wine is appropriate (a) during the EU presidency and (b) generally; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: I have no plans to host any dinners, receptions or parties specifically for the EU presidency, but—subject to value for money and where possible—British products are used.

Special Advisers

Bob Spink: To ask the Leader of the House if he will list (a) the special advisers in his Department, (b) their specific areas of expertise and (c) the total cost of employing them in the latest year for which figures are available.

Nigel Griffiths: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 36W.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

First-time Buyers

Ian Lucas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the recent proposals announced to help first-time buyers.

David Miliband: The Government want to offer everyone the opportunity of a decent home at a price they can afford. We set out our overarching proposals earlier this year in Sustainable Communities: Homes for All." We published a consultation document, HomeBuy—Expanding the Opportunity to Own," in April. We are currently considering the responses received. Copies of both of these documents can be found in the Library of the House.

House Building Targets

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what mechanisms he will use to test the East of England Regional Spatial Strategy house building targets.

Yvette Cooper: An examination in public, before an independent panel, will test the proposed house building targets contained in the draft Regional Spatial Strategy for the East of England.

Milton Keynes (Grid Road System)

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport regarding the future of Milton Keynes's grid road system in relation to his sustainable communities plan for the city.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Both the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Department for Transport are aware of the local debate in Milton Keynes about whether to extend the grid road system in the city, although my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has not met my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport to discuss it. I look forward to the local partners resolving this matter.

Telecommunications Masts

Annette Brooke: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to review planning policy relating to telecommunications masts; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Government's will be commissioning further research to identify the future direction of mobile phone technology and the need for mast developments. This forms part of a wider review the Government is undertaking of all the planning arrangements for telecommunication masts.

Regional Fire Control Rooms

Michael Penning: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the timetable is for the establishment of regional fire control rooms.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The timetable for the control centre project is contingent upon a final decision being made on how best to take forward plans for modernisation of control centres.
	We expect to make an announcement about locations shortly. Once this has been made we will then have a clearer view on what the overall timetable will be for their completion.

Regional Fire Control Rooms

Tony Baldry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to announce the location of the regional control centre for the fire service in the south-east of England.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Discussions with developers in the south-east are taking slightly longer than in other regions. I expect to make an announcement on the location for the south-east regional control centre shortly after the announcements for the other centres.

Planning Gain

Keith Vaz: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to review the law on planning gain.

Yvette Cooper: As set out in the March 2005 Budget report, the Government will respond to the recommendations in the Barker Review of Housing Supply, including a proposed Planning-gain Supplement, later this year.
	The Government are also shortly due to publish a new circular on planning obligations which seeks to improve the operation of the system under the current legislative framework.

Best Value

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Best Value performance indicators each tier of local council were required to compile, (a) in each year since the introduction of Best Value and (b) in 2005–06.

Phil Woolas: The information is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  BVPIs and ACPIs BVPIs 
			  2000–01(1) 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Unitaries/  Met. boroughs 189 123 95 97 98 94 
			 London 189 121 94 95 95 93 
			 County councils 134 105 76 75 76 59 
			 District councils 91 65 51 53 51 57 
		
	
	(1)Includes Audit Commission Performance Indicators which were replaced entirely in 2001–02 by Best Value Performance Indicators.

Correspondence

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Beaconsfield of 15 June.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I replied to the hon. Member on 5 July.

Doorways (Height)

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take steps to raise the required height of doorways in new buildings from 6 ft 8 in to 7 ft.

Yvette Cooper: There are no proposals, nor has there been any consideration of proposals, to amend the Building Regulations to require doors to be built to any specific height.

e-Government Regional Partnership Group

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the role of his Department in the proposed e-Government Regional Partnership Group.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) currently funds nine local e-Government Partnerships representing each of the English regions to the tune of £300,000 for the period April 2004 to March 2006 to develop local e-Gov solutions that can then be made available to all authorities in each region as well as throughout the country.
	The local e-Gov programme is to conclude on 31 March 2006. This is as originally planned and reflects the support necessary to deliver my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's pledge that 100 per cent. of services would be available on-line by December 2005. We are migrating the outputs from the programme to ownership largely within the local authority community. The Regional e-Government Network—consisting of the nine regionally based partnerships, is part of that community. The network has come together as a way to collaborate and share knowledge and experience and reduce duplication of effort. The ODPM continues to be responsible for leading on local e-Government and related issues and has no plans to transfer this responsibility to any other body.

Emergency Calls

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) genuine and (b) malicious false alarm fire emergency calls have been received in Hampshire in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of false fire alarms attended by Hampshire fire and rescue service since 1997 is set out in the following table. Genuine false alarms are those generated by automatic equipment (due to apparatus) and by people believing that there was a fire (good intent).
	
		False fire alarms, by type, attended by Hampshire FRS, 1997–2004
		
			  Total false fire alarms Good intent calls Malicious calls Due to apparatus 
		
		
			 1997 10,027 2,619 662 6,746 
			 1998 9,494 2,358 579 6,557 
			 1999 9,351 2,371 640 6,340 
			 2000 9,266 2,315 699 6,252 
			 2001 10,035 2,627 826 6,582 
			 2002(2) 10,531 2,756 795 6,980 
			 2003(2) 10,333 2,945 788 6,600 
			 2004(3) 9,827 2,431 666 6,730 
		
	
	(2)Includes estimates for incidents not recorded during periods of industrial action in 2002 and 2003.
	(3)Provisional
	Source:
	Fire and Rescue Service FDR3 returns to ODPM.

Fire Service

David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many fire crews have trained for Essex fire brigade in each of the last five years; and how many are on the waiting list for training.

Jim Fitzpatrick: This is a matter for the local fire and rescue service. The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Flooding (North Yorkshire)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will provide funds under the Bellwin Formula for the funding of repairs and clear-up following the recent floods in North Yorkshire; if he will ensure that payments are made swiftly; and if he will relax the deadline for applications.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Emergency financial assistance is available to the affected local authorities under the Bellwin scheme to help with their costs incurred in taking immediate action to safeguard life or property or to prevent severe inconvenience to the inhabitants of the area. Local authorities have one month from the end date of an incident in which to notify OPDM of an intention to make a claim. This deadline is fixed but we are prepared to consider extending the usual two month eligible spending limit, subject to the relevant local authorities providing a reasonable case for this. To date one local authority in the North Yorkshire area has been in touch to register a possible Bellwin claim.
	Once a valid claim is received, we will make payment as swiftly as possible. This is usually within 15 working days.

Flooding (North Yorkshire)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will reconsider the restrictions on Bellwin Formula payments excluding claims for personal items.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Emergency financial assistance is available to the affected local authorities under the Bellwin scheme to help with their costs incurred in taking immediate action to safeguard life or property or to prevent severe inconvenience to the inhabitants of the area. It has been the policy of successive Governments not to pay compensation to householders or businesses for any losses suffered as a result of flooding as this is an insurable risk. If the Government were to underwrite insurable costs, it would remove the incentive for people to take out appropriate insurance cover with considerable dissatisfaction on the part of those who had chosen to take out cover. However, in cases of genuine hardship, help may be available from the social fund; details are available from Benefits Agency offices.

Flooding (North Yorkshire)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make available emergency funds to repair the damage to roads following the recent floods under the Bellwin formula in North Yorkshire county council area.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Emergency financial assistance is available to the affected local authorities under the Bellwin scheme to help with their costs incurred in taking immediate action to safeguard life or property or to prevent severe inconvenience to the inhabitants of the area. Such costs can include the immediate repairs to highways, pavements and footpaths but longer term repairs are deemed ineligible under Bellwin. The Department for Transport operate a scheme which specifically deals with emergency road repairs.

Flooding (North Yorkshire)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will allocate emergency funds under the Bellwin formula to be made available for the clear-up of the countryside and carriageways of people's possessions and debris in North Yorkshire following the recent floods.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Emergency financial assistance is available to the affected local authorities under the Bellwin scheme to help with their costs incurred in taking immediate action to safeguard life or property or to prevent severe inconvenience to the inhabitants of the area. It has been the policy of successive Governments not to pay compensation to householders or businesses for any losses suffered as a result of flooding as this is an insurable risk. If the Government were to underwrite insurable costs, it would remove the incentive for people to take out appropriate insurance cover. However, in cases of genuine hardship, help may be available from the social fund; details are available from Benefits Agency offices.

HMOs (Licence Fees)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent representations he has received from (a) landlord and (b) tenant organisations on houses in multiple occupation licensing fees; and what response he has made.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 5 July 2005 (ref. 4872).

Homeless (Hornsey and Wood Green)

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate the number of homeless people in Hornsey and Wood Green in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Information about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is collected quarterly at local authority level and is in respect of households rather than persons. Hornsey and Wood Green are within the London borough of Haringey.
	The number of households accepted by the borough as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need for each year since 2000–01, and the number of households in temporary accommodation arranged by the borough under homelessness legislation as at 31 March in each year is tabled as follows. Information is also collected on the number of people who sleep rough—that is, those who are literally roofless on a single night—and these are also presented in the table.
	The duty owed to a person accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need is to secure suitable accommodation. If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority may secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available. As an alternative to the provision of temporary accommodation some authorities arrange for households to remain in their current accommodation (homeless at home), until a settled solution becomes available.
	
		London borough of Haringey reported activity on homelessness
		
			  Decisions(4)during the year 
			  Accepted(5) as owed a main duty In temporary(6) accommodation as on 31 March Rough sleepers (persons) 
		
		
			 2000–01 1,436 3,709 2 
			 2001–02 1,138 3,520 2 
			 2002–03 — — 8 
			 2003–04 — 4,774 6 
			 2004–05 1,175 5,309 4 
		
	
	'—'denotes an authority failed to provide a return for 1 or more quarters.
	(4)Data shown where 4 quarterly returns were received.
	(5)All households eligible under homelessness legislation, found to be unintentionally homeless and in a priority need category and consequently owed a main homelessness duty during the year.
	(6)Households in accommodation either pending a decision on their homelessness application or awaiting allocation of a settled home following acceptance.
	Sources:
	ODPM: Homelessness returns (quarterly)
	HOUSING Strategy Statistical Appendix (annual)

Independent Tenant Advisers

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will establish a register for independent tenant advisers; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to establish a register for independent tenant advisers.

Pensions

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost will be to local authorities of revoking the changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme in the Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2004.

Phil Woolas: A full statement on the outcome of the recently concluded statutory consultation exercise to amend the Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2004 in England and Wales will be made shortly.

Referendums

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 7 June 2005, Official Report, column 497W, on referendums, what the expenses limit for (a) political parties and (b) registered third parties in mayoral referendums.

Phil Woolas: The expenses limit specified by The Local Authorities (Conduct of Referendums) (England) Regulations 2001 of 2,000, plus 5p per elector on the relevant register of local government electors, applies to expenses incurred by or on behalf of an individual or body for the purpose of promoting a particular result in a referendum. The same limit applies to all individuals and bodies, including political parties.

Vehicle Fires

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2005, Official Report, column 822W, on vehicle fires, what the figures are for 2004.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested for 2004 is contained in the following table.
	
		Deliberate road vehicle primary fires, by fire and rescue service area, 2004
		
			 FRS area 2004(7) 
		
		
			 Avon 1,478 
			 Bedfordshire 474 
			 Berkshire 566 
			 Buckinghamshire 667 
			 Cambridgeshire 721 
			 Cheshire 887 
			 Cleveland 1,085 
			 Cornwall 263 
			 Cumbria 359 
			 Derbyshire 574 
			 Devon 582 
			 Dorset 345 
			 Durham 583 
			 East Sussex 499 
			 Essex 1,081 
			 Gloucestershire 530 
			 Greater London 3,791 
			 Greater Manchester 4,001 
			 Hampshire 643 
			 Hereford and Worcester 407 
			 Hertfordshire 621 
			 Humberside 1,582 
			 Isle of Wight 16 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 
			 Kent 1,458 
			 Lancashire 1,040 
			 Leicestershire 657 
			 Lincolnshire 463 
			 Merseyside 2,787 
			 Norfolk 482 
			 North Yorkshire 344 
			 Northamptonshire 804 
			 Northumberland 270 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,701 
			 Oxfordshire 459 
			 Shropshire 322 
			 Somerset 285 
			 South Yorkshire 2,280 
			 Staffordshire 908 
			 Suffolk 336 
			 Surrey 536 
			 Tyne and Wear 1,514 
			 Warwickshire 549 
			 West Midlands 3,300 
			 West Sussex 363 
			 West Yorkshire 3,620 
			 Wiltshire 205 
		
	
	(7) provisional
	Source:
	Fire and Rescue Service FDR1 returns to ODPM.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Abandoned Vehicles

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance her Department provides to local authorities on the removal of abandoned vehicles.

Ben Bradshaw: There is currently no central guidance supplied to local authorities on the removal of abandoned vehicles.
	However, as part of the implementation of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, the government is in the process of drafting statutory guidance to local authorities on the discharge of their duty on abandoned vehicles. This guidance will be fully consulted on later in the year.

Abandoned Vehicles

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many abandoned vehicles were reported in each year for which figures are available in (a) England, (b) each government office region and (c) each local authority area.

Ben Bradshaw: Local authorities are not asked to supply figures on how many reports of abandoned vehicles they receive, rather the number that they remove and destroy.
	Numbers of abandoned vehicles reported does not give an accurate picture of the problem as a report of a vehicle being abandoned does not necessarily mean it will turn out to be abandoned. Also, reports can be malicious and single vehicles reported by more than one person.

Bees

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason the annual budget of the bee health progamme is being reduced by 20 per cent.

Jim Knight: holding answer 30 June 2005
	The decision to reduce expenditure on the bee health programme by around £250,000 per annum from 2008 was taken last year as part of a package of decisions on the future allocation of Defra's financial resources.

Bees

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the threat of the varroa mite and other parasites to the UK bee population; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 30 June 2005
	Controlling varroa is still an important challenge to beekeeping today, but one which we believe beekeepers can manage through the application of good bee husbandry. The pest is now endemic across much of the UK and has become so despite its notifiable status. Defra has concluded that maintaining a statutory enforcement role for this pest is no longer appropriate and we plan to remove Varroosis from the list of notifiable diseases.
	In terms of other bee parasites, the National Bee Unit has made an assessment of the exotic parasitic mite, tropilaelaps, and considers that its introduction could have a serious impact on UK beekeeping. We are developing contingency measures accordingly.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been paid for cattle slaughtered because of bovine tuberculosis since 2000; and to how many farmers.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table provides details for compensation paid against cattle slaughtered since 2000 in Great Britain. Information about the numbers of farmers receiving compensation is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		Compensation paid against cattle slaughtered
		
			  Calendar year Cattle slaughtered(8)(5507990009) Compensation expenditure (£)(10) 
		
		
			 2004 22,566 (11)33,785,023 
			 2003 23,177 38,215,285 
			 2002 (12) 23,013 28,898,623 
			 2001 (12) 6,320 7,074,125 
			 2000 8,400 7,307,797 
		
	
	(8)TB Reactors plus Direct Contacts
	(9)Data downloaded from State Veterinary Service database on 19 May 2005. All data provisional and subject to change as more data become available.
	(10)TB Compensation data taken from the Animal Health 2004, Report of the Chief Veterinary Officer, page 161.
	(11)provisional figures data taken from the Animal Health 2004, Report of the Chief Veterinary Officer, page 161.
	(12)In 2001, the TB testing and control programme was largely suspended due to the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. When testing resumed in 2002, resources were concentrated on herds with overdue TB tests which would have had a longer period in which to contract the disease. Also the proportion of high risk herds tested immediately after the FMD outbreak was greater than that prior to the outbreak. As a result, data for 2001 and 2002 are not comparable with other years.

BSE

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what monitoring the UK Government have put in place following the discovery of BSE in a French goat; what discussions she has had with the French government; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: In line with EU legislation agreed following the discovery of BSE in a French goat slaughtered in 2002 and the announcement of a possible UK case slaughtered in 1990 which is subject to further investigations, the UK has arranged for all goats aged over 18 months that die or are put down on farms to be tested for BSE. In addition all goats aged over 18 months slaughtered in abattoirs handling significant numbers of older goats will be tested.
	The Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) in its role as Community Reference Laboratory for TSEs is in regular contact with counterparts in France. The Food Standards Agency and Defra, including VLA, met the French Food Safety Agency in June and briefly discussed testing arrangements for goats.

Cattle Restriction Orders

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle herds are under restriction orders.

Ben Bradshaw: On 30 April 2005, 4,164 cattle herds were under bovine TB restriction in England. This includes herds under restriction due to a TB breakdown and herds restricted due to an overdue TB test.
	In addition, there are currently 36 cattle herds in Great Britain under restriction for cattle identification irregularities. These restrictions will be lifted once the correct identification requirements have been met.

Cod Beck

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to speed up the proposed en-maining of the Cod Beck and bring it under the Main Rivers category.

Elliot Morley: Hambledon district council, have recently completed a feasibility study for a flood risk improvement scheme for Thirsk. The Environment Agency is working with my officials and the council to determine the most appropriate way of promoting such works.
	Cod Beck is one of the watercourses for which we plan to transfer responsibility to the Environment Agency on 1 April 2006. If the current classification of the watercourse creates difficulties in proceeding with a possible scheme we shall be prepared to consider bringing forward the proposed transfer date.

Endangered Species

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to reverse declines in the numbers of each most endangered species in England.

Jim Knight: The Department is taking action in many ways. The three key measures are:
	(i) Our work under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan which sets out targeted plans for 391 endangered species and 45 habitats across the UK. These plans are delivered by partnerships with the public, voluntary and private sectors. A review of the Action Plan in 2006 will ensure that the list of priority species and habitats remains relevant, and will revise targets for the individual action plans. This will include setting targets at the individual country level.
	Under Section 74 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, the Department prepared a list of habitats and species of principal importance in England. The England Biodiversity Strategy, launched by the Secretary of State in 2002, sets out the means by which the Government will comply with its duty under Section 74 to further the conservation of the listed species and habitats, including through the continued implementation of the Action Plans. The Strategy is one of Defra's key programmes;
	(ii) Ensuring robust legal protection for endangered species and their habitats thorough legislation such as the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The Department is currently reviewing Part I of the 1981 Act. This part of the 1981 Act is the principal piece of national legislation protecting our native birds, animals and plants. A consultation on the review was completed in March this year and a number of wildlife measures from the consultation have been included in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Bill;
	(iii) Delivery of our PSA targets to bring into favourable condition by 2010 95 per cent. of all nationally important wildlife sites; and to reverse the long term decline in the number of farmland birds by 2020. This is being facilitated through our extensive network of protected sites and the agri-environment schemes.

EU Tobacco Subsidies

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much EU financial support is available for growing low grade tobacco in 2005–06; what quantities of such tobacco are exported; to which countries; what discussions are taking place on reform of such practices; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The EU budget provision for tobacco premiums in 2005 is €916 million. Higher grade tobacco attracts a higher premium than tobacco which is of lower quality. The main destinations for export of EU grown tobacco in its raw state are Russia, the United States, the Ukraine, and Egypt. The quantities exported to these and other destinations in 2004 are set out in the following table.
	The practice of supporting raw tobacco production is one the UK has consistently opposed and I am pleased to say that from 2006 it is to be phased out. Under the agreement reached by the Council of Ministers in Luxembourg in April 2004, direct support for tobacco will be brought to an end by 2010. Between 2006 and 2010 producer member states will have the option of retaining up to 60 per cent. of the tobacco premium as a coupled payment. From 2010, support will be completely decoupled from production, with 50 per cent. being transferred to the single payment and the remaining 50 per cent. to be used for restructuring programmes under the rural development programme.
	
		EU 15/25(13) exports of raw tobacco in 2004
		
			  
		
		
			 Metric tonnes 
			 Russia 38,881 
			 USA 23,466 
			 Ukraine 20,542 
			 Egypt 14,853 
			 Switzerland 7,751 
			 Romania 7,389 
			 Japan 6,875 
			 Algeria 5,405 
			 South Korea 4,748 
			 South Africa 4,586 
			 Turkey 4,365 
			 Tunisia 4,105 
			 Other destinations 22,274 
			 Total 165,240 
		
	
	(13)EU 15 before 1 May 2004 and EU 25 after 1 May 2004.
	Source:
	Comext—Eurostat

Flooding

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will expedite the flood alleviation scheme for (a) Thirsk and (b) other suggested flood defence projects in the area; and if she will relax the point scoring system on the project.

Elliot Morley: Defra has overall policy responsibility for flood and coastal erosion risk in England. We fund most of the Environment Agency's activities in this area and provide grant aid on a project-by-project basis to the other flood and coastal defence operating authorities (local authorities and internal drainage boards) to support their investment in improvement works. Improvement projects funded by Defra, including those of the Environment Agency, must meet specified economic, technical and environmental criteria and achieve an appropriate priority score" to be eligible for funding. Defra does not build defences, nor direct the authorities on what specific projects to undertake. The works programme to manage risk is driven by the operating authorities.
	Defra operates a priority scoring system to ensure that taxpayers' money is spent to best effect and to maximise the benefits achieved from a finite budget available for flood and coastal erosion risk management. The system is designed to be as logical, transparent and equitable as possible, with criteria published on our website. Prioritisation has to be based on risk and while I understand the desire for defences when areas flood, it is not, however, a defensible reason for allowing them to jump the queue ahead of areas where risks of future floods might be greater. Making an exception for Thirsk would clearly depart from the principles of objectivity, fairness and a risk based approach.
	A feasibility study has been carried out by Hambleton district council to examine the possibility of a flood alleviation scheme for Thirsk. The best way to take this forward will be explored jointly by Hambleton DC and the Environment Agency, with Defra advice as required.

Flooding

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the reasons were for the delays in flood warning to be made public in connection with the recent floods in North Yorkshire.

Elliot Morley: Responsibility for flood warning arrangements rests with the Environment Agency.
	I understand that on Friday 17 June 2005, Met Office forecasts to the Environment Agency indicated the likelihood of thunderstorms across North East Region over the weekend. However, due to the nature of the weather system, the Met Office were unable, even by Sunday lunchtime, to be more specific than to warn that most of the region was at continued risk of thunderstorms from the afternoon into the evening, and they had particular concern about the Pennines.
	Three Flash Warnings of heavy rain were issued to the Environment Agency on Sunday 19 June at 13:57, 18:22 and 20:41 BST, but all the information related to scattered heavy thunderstorms", localised torrential downpours" and localised flooding" with no direct time or location given to them.
	The Environment Agency was alerted to the onset of property flooding at Thirsk and surrounding areas between 17:30 and 18:00 on 19 June;. While I understand that flooding at this stage was confined to surface water runoff, the Environment Agency nevertheless deployed operational staff to the area to report back on the situation.
	At 20:00 on 19 June, alarm levels were received from the Environment Agency's instrumentation on Cod Beck upstream of Thirsk and consequently the Flood Watch for the area was issued at 20:10.
	By 21:30, Environment Agency patrol staff on site reported a rapid rise of water levels in Cod Beck and the decision was therefore taken to issue the Flood Warning for Thirsk. The warning for flooding from Cod Beck itself was issued at 21:38 to 184 recipients. By this time there had been some flooding to property as a result of surface water and drainage problems but not from Cod Beck.

Flooding

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make provision for the collection of animal carcasses to be free of cost to farmers following the flooding in North Yorkshire.

Elliot Morley: The Department does not have any provision for the free collection of animals lost in the recent flooding. However, although not compulsory, I understand that many farmers already insure their livestock against such eventualities and it is likely that the cost of collection and disposal of dead stock will be met by the insurance companies concerned.

Fly-tipping

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2005, Official Report, column 552W, on fly-tipping, if she will break the figures down by (a) location and (b) type for (i) each region and (ii) each London borough.

Ben Bradshaw: The following data are from the Flycapture database which was established in April 2004 to record all fly-tips reported to and dealt with by waste collection authorities and the Environment Agency.
	It is important to note that the data are probably an underestimate and will increase as more authorities submit returns and get better at collecting and reporting the data.
	
		Table 1: Number of fly-tipping incidents in each English region by land type
		
			 Region Highway Footpath bridleway Back alleyway Railway Council land 
		
		
			 East Midlands 19,327 7,861 1,654 40 8,765 
			 East of England 30,287 4,837 6,043 46 19,931 
			 Greater London 193,016 21,836 3,341 232 11,155 
			 North East 15,713 8,059 35,170 78 15,884 
			 North West 17,953 7,073 37,305 231 8,035 
			 South East 38,411 5,518 4,635 68 25,052 
			 South West 16,736 1,575 1,800 10 5,099 
			 West Midlands 28,484 8,501 2,833 62 13,416 
			 Yorkshire and Humber20,839 14,816 4,465 41 152,326 
		
	
	
		
			 Region Agricultural Private residential Commercial industrial Watercourse Other 
		
		
			 East Midlands 716 1,521 757 231 486 
			 East of England 323 1,886 647 356 3,580 
			 Greater London 223 1,894 870 16 25,821 
			 North East 640 2,111 1,605 403 2,219 
			 North West 404 2,801 1,184 224 1,777 
			 South East 212 2,537 1,305 255 909 
			 South West 140 714 287 174 188 
			 West Midlands 108 2,595 1,337 120 1,337 
			 Yorkshire and Humber796 2,070 1,128 165 3,539 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Fly-tipping data based on returns reported to the Flycapture database between April 2004 and March 2005.
	2.No data are shown where an authority has failed to submit returns.
	
		Table 2: Number of fly-tipping incidents in each English region by waste type
		
			  Animal carcass Green Vehicle parts White goods Other electrical 
		
		
			 East Midlands 893 3,109 1,277 3,399 973 
			 East of England 762 5,747 2,139 4,424 1,812 
			 Greater London 976 7,330 3,370 16,852 5,413 
			 North East 324 4,680 1,456 5,237 1,730 
			 North West 616 2,795 1,080 5,014 1,988 
			 South East 985 4,328 1,863 5,249 1,905 
			 South West 710 1,712 989 2,516 1,250 
			 West Midlands 1,719 3,672 996 2,836 1,149 
			 Yorkshire and Humber496 5,327 1,481 7,406 1,444 
		
	
	
		
			  Tyres Asbestos Clinical Construction/demolition/excavation Black bags—commercial 
		
		
			 East Midlands 2,352 373 405 2,884 1,210 
			 East of England 2,138 352 99 4,683 2,282 
			 Greater London 3,640 114 87 11,312 18,916 
			 North East 1,823 248 102 9,041 2,079 
			 North West 1,585 282 273 5,822 1,740 
			 South East 2,341 356 183 4,458 1,638 
			 South West 1,029 116 133 1,996 424 
			 West Midlands 1,245 357 177 3,069 1,940 
			 Yorkshire and Humber5,875 429 594 3,218 6,036 
		
	
	
		
			  Black bags—household Chemical drums/ oil fuel Other household Other commercial Other 
		
		
			 East Midlands 8,149 275 12,524 1,493 2,043 
			 East of England 9,529 427 25,406 1,952 5,880 
			 Greater London 39,043 355 52,329 8,254 90,414 
			 North East 13,817 413 32,291 2,932 5,723 
			 North West 15,366 843 32,672 2,686 3,993 
			 South East 18,007 366 30,810 2,152 4,270 
			 South West 4,573 193 9,219 721 1,143 
			 West Midlands 14,036 562 21,844 1,891 3,300 
			 Yorkshire and Humber111,624 300 39,828 2,448 13,679 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Fly-tipping data based on returns reported to the Flycapture database between April 2004 and March 2005.
	2.No data are shown where an authority has failed to submit returns.
	
		Table 3: Number of fly-tipping incidents in each London borough by land type
		
			  Highway Footpath bridleway Back alleyway Railway Council land 
		
		
			 Corporation of London 4 0 0 0 0 
			 Barking and Dagenham — — — — — 
			 Barnet 564 4,336 86 1 27 
			 Bexley Council 131 22 0 0 9 
			 Brent 969 0 0 0 0 
			 Bromley 1,651 27 55 0 159 
			 Camden 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Croydon 6,182 0 60 0 490 
			 Ealing 1,179 576 12 0 0 
			 Enfield 142 8 32 0 20 
			 Greenwich 124 28 0 0 4 
			 Hackney 63 0 0 0 0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham1,009 6,996 0 0 42 
			 Haringey 51,999 1 1 0 1 
			 Harrow 17 177 37 0 9 
			 Havering 1,339 281 134 0 3,007 
			 Hillingdon 446 244 261 3 413 
			 Hounslow 5,607 31 55 2 81 
			 Islington 5,175 0 0 0 17 
			 Lambeth 13,783 0 0 0 0 
			 Lewisham 16,706 469 1,375 139 11,248 
			 Merton 3,195 1,228 166 9 211 
			 Newham 4,330 3,908 154 0 264 
			 Redbridge 5,494 0 370 0 0 
			 Richmond upon Thames 176 576 59 3 30 
			 Southwark 17,721 410 122 0 4,428 
			 Sutton 62 4 21 1 134 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,102 745 42 0 196 
			 Waltham Forest 7,095 35 417 74 361 
			 Wandsworth — — — — — 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 39,665 5 0 0 3 
			 Kingston upon Thames — — — — — 
			 Westminster City Council 6,086 1,729 52 0 1 
		
	
	
		
			  Agricultural Private residential Commercial industrial Watercourse Other 
		
		
			 Corporation of London 166 0 1 0 0 
			 Barking and Dagenham — — — — — 
			 Barnet 0 13 0 0 699 
			 Bexley Council 0 8 5 0 0 
			 Brent 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Bromley 6 6 1 1 7 
			 Camden 0 0 0 0 24,287 
			 Croydon 0 18 8 0 43 
			 Ealing 0 81 0 0 0 
			 Enfield 0 38 12 0 10 
			 Greenwich 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hackney 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham0 0 8 0 44 
			 Haringey 1 1 1 0 1 
			 Harrow 0 2 0 0 6 
			 Havering 10 86 42 6 38 
			 Hillingdon 5 355 243 0 158 
			 Hounslow 7 14 22 3 2 
			 Islington 0 1 0 0 3 
			 Lambeth 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lewisham 0 387 5 0 12 
			 Merton 9 304 39 0 24 
			 Newham 0 208 205 0 0 
			 Redbridge 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Richmond upon Thames 16 17 18 1 3 
			 Southwark 0 122 163 0 40 
			 Sutton 0 1 4 0 0 
			 Tower Hamlets 0 8 3 0 13 
			 Waltham Forest 3 222 88 4 5 
			 Wandsworth — — — — — 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 0 0 1 0 3 
			 Kingston upon Thames — — — — — 
			 Westminster City Council 0 2 1 1 423 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Fly-tipping data based on returns reported to the Flycapture database between April 2004 and March 2005.
	2.No data are shown where an authority has failed to submit returns.
	
		Table 4: Number of fly-tipping incidents in each London borough by waste type
		
			  Animal carcass Green Vehicle parts White goods Other electrical 
		
		
			 Corporation of London 0 33 6 13 1 
			 Barking and Dagenham — — — — — 
			 Barnet 0 389 220 495 198 
			 Bexley Council 0 6 11 5 18 
			 Brent 0 0 0 164 0 
			 Bromley 0 209 47 112 31 
			 Camden 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Croydon 0 250 10 897 213 
			 Ealing 105 55 6 211 30 
			 Enfield 0 0 0 8 8 
			 Greenwich 0 0 0 2 0 
			 Hackney Hammersmith 0 0 0 0 0 
			 and Fulham 0 181 14 690 99 
			 Haringey 0 1 1 1 1 
			 Harrow 4 4 18 20 24 
			 Havering 7 435 87 374 95 
			 Hillingdon 0 111 0 72 0 
			 Hounslow 13 293 40 180 113 
			 Islington 4 104 62 459 125 
			 Lambeth 5 280 18 672 214 
			 Lewisham 102 682 1,026 4,641 151 
			 Merton 37 457 84 440 180 
			 Newham 135 336 241 1434 0 
			 Redbridge 159 0 0 0 0 
			 Richmond upon Thames 0 128 3 93 13 
			 Southwark 0 93 664 1,346 1,708 
			 Sutton 19 11 1 18 5 
			 Tower Hamlets 3 70 109 172 74 
			 Waltham Forest 336 281 214 730 542 
			 Wandsworth — — — — — 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 40 1,428 388 3,235 1,462 
			 Kingston upon Thames — — — —- — 
			 Westminster City Council 7 69 100 368 108 
		
	
	
		
			  Tyres Asbestos Clinical Construction/ demolition/ excavation Black bags—commercial 
		
		
			 Corporation of London 2 0 0 43 3 
			 Barking and Dagenham — — — — — 
			 Barnet 63 1 0 486 205 
			 Bexley Council 13 0 0 31 4 
			 Brent 0 0 0 200 205 
			 Bromley 89 0 0 405 80 
			 Camden 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Croydon 308 0 0 594 2,649 
			 Ealing 7 8 0 24 150 
			 Enfield 8 0 0 40 14 
			 Greenwich 10 14 0 88 10 
			 Hackney Hammersmith 0 0 0 0 50 
			 and Fulham 19 0 0 282 114 
			 Haringey 1 0 0 1 1 
			 Harrow 6 2 0 12 16 
			 Havering 39 6 4 386 87 
			 Hillingdon 0 0 0 114 227 
			 Hounslow 59 16 7 182 1,436 
			 Islington 39 1 0 316 1,700 
			 Lambeth 850 15 11 1,048 74 
			 Lewisham 817 0 21 938 480 
			 Merton 124 1 1 631 186 
			 Newham 191 34 1 698 2,035 
			 Redbridge 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Richmond upon Thames 10 0 0 87 87 
			 Southwark 251 0 4 1,066 585 
			 Sutton 4 7 1 5 4 
			 Tower Hamlets 278 0 0 252 281 
			 Waltham Forest 242 6 13 717 286 
			 Wandsworth — — — — — 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 204 1 16 2,308 7,313 
			 Kingston upon Thames — — — — — 
			 Westminster City Council 6 2 8 358 634 
		
	
	
		
			  Black bags—household Chemical drums/ oil fuel Other household Other commercial Other 
		
		
			 Corporation of London 14 2 49 5 0 
			 Barking and Dagenham — — — — — 
			 Barnet 676 20 1,791 510 672 
			 Bexley Council 22 7 45 7 6 
			 Brent 200 20 20 150 10 
			 Bromley 293 1 547 50 49 
			 Camden 0 0 0 0 24,287 
			 Croydon 1,220 0 397 23 240 
			 Ealing 460 2 160 90 740 
			 Enfield 82 0 20 26 56 
			 Greenwich 22 0 10 0 0 
			 Hackney Hammersmith 13 0 0 0 0 
			 and Fulham 962 17 3,891 160 1,670 
			 Haringey 1 0 0 0 51,998 
			 Harrow 63 0 19 7 53 
			 Havering 1,762 21 1,342 113 185 
			 Hillingdon 519 9 156 19 901 
			 Hounslow 1,962 7 695 261 560 
			 Islington 162 44 1,581 170 429 
			 Lambeth 1,967 47 3,258 3,349 4,975 
			 Lewisham 1,535 0 8,726 600 452 
			 Merton 1,196 6 1,204 249 390 
			 Newham 2,125 0 587 1,252 0 
			 Redbridge 908 0 4,797 0 0 
			 Richmond upon Thames 133 6 211 83 45 
			 Southwark 4,438 65 10,492 697 173 
			 Sutton 11 0 31 78 32 
			 Tower Hamlets 915 0 637 210 108 
			 Waltham Forest 857 12 3,223 787 58 
			 Wandsworth — — — — — 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 15,449 54 6,289 1,115 377 
			 Kingston upon Thames — — — — — 
			 Westminster City Council 1,276 15 2,153 1,243 1,948 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Fly-tipping data based on returns reported to the Flycapture database between April 2004 and March 2005.
	2.No data are shown where an authority has failed to submit returns.

Fruit Growing

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) value and (b) weight of fruit grown in the UK was in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by type of fruit.

Jim Knight: Information on the value and weight of fruit grown in the UK for the calendar year 2004 is presented in the following table.
	
		Value and weight of UK produced fruit for 2004
		
			 2004 Output (000 tonnes) Value (£ million) 
		
		
			 Dessert apples 96.3 36.7 
			 Culinary apples 108.3 40.9 
			 Pears 22.7 7.9 
			 Plums 13.6 9.4 
			 Cherries 1.0 1.9 
			 Strawberries 47.9 95.9 
			 Raspberries 10.7 48.4 
			 Blackcurrants 19.3 12.7 
			 Other soft fruit (14) 5.1 19.9 
		
	
	(14)includes gooseberries, red and blackcurrants, loganberries and blackberries

Gangmasters (Licensing) Act

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the extent of (a) exploitation and (b) criminal activity by labour providers operating in second stage processing.

Jim Knight: As indicated in the Consultation Document on the draft Gangmasters (Exclusions) Regulations 2005 published on 28 February 2005, Defra has commissioned research to assess the extent of worker exploitation or illegal activity involving labour providers who supply workers to undertake second stage processing. A draft report has been received and we intend to publish this once it has been finalised.

Gangmasters (Licensing) Act

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial resources her Department plans to invest in enforcing the criminal offences of the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 (a) in the present financial year and (b) in the next three financial years; how many officers in her Department will have responsibilities for enforcing the criminal offences of the Act; how many of these enforcement officers will be existing staff; how many will be additional recruits; and what proportion of their time she estimates will be spent on enforcing the Act.

Jim Knight: The Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 makes the Secretary of State responsible for appointing officers to enforce the criminal offences that the Act establishes. It is currently our intention to appoint officers of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority to undertake enforcement activities on behalf of Defra. The Regulatory Impact assessment that accompanied the Act indicated that the cost of enforcing the new legislation would be £2 million in a full year. This would enable the creation of an enforcement team of some 20staff plus associated legal support. It is envisaged that the enforcement team will be additional to existingGovernment funded enforcement resources. Gangmaster Licensing Authority staff involved in enforcement work may have other duties. However in aggregate the resource available to undertake enforcement work should equate to some 20 full-time equivalents in a full year.
	It is anticipated that the offences of operating as a gangmaster without a licence and using an unlicensed gangmaster will be triggered in summer 2006. Enforcement capabilities will be built up gradually over the intervening period with the intention that the enforcement team will be at full strength when the offences come into effect. A programme for recruiting and training enforcement officers is being developed and funding will be made available in the current and next financial year to support this programme. We anticipate that the enforcement team's first full year of operation will be 2007–08 and that from that year onwards, expenditure on enforcement activities will be some £2 million per annum. It is not intended to seek to recover the cost of enforcement activities through licence fee income.

GM Crops

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what position the Government took on each of the votes at the recent meeting of EU environment ministers on Commission proposals to require countries to lift national bans on specified GM crops.

Elliot Morley: The UK voted to support the Commission decisions calling for the member states to withdraw their safeguard actions invoked under Article 23 of Directive 2001/18 because the scientific evidence provided does not justify taking such action. While the UK is very willing to consider any evidence that restrictions on specified GM crops could be justified, no new evidence was submitted to back such a case.

GM Crops

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how each EU country voted at the Environment Council in respect of the Commission proposal to rescind national bans on GM crops; and for what reasons the UK voted as it did.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 4 July 2005
	The majority of member states either voted against the Commission proposals to rescind national bans on certain specified GM crops, or abstained. The formal record of the Council meeting has not yet been published, so I cannot yet confirm how each member state voted . However once this information is available, I shall place a copy in the Library.
	While the UK is always ready to consider new information relating to the risk assessment of approved GMOs, the UK voted to support the Commission decisions because in our view the actions taken by the member states to invoke safeguard actions are not justified by the scientific evidence and are not in compliance with the terms of Directive 2001/18. Under the terms of the Deliberate Release Directive safeguard action may only be taken if adequate scientific evidence is provided to justify the claim. In these cases the UK Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment agree with the European Food Safety Authority that no new evidence has been brought forward for consideration.

Household Water

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average amount spent by each household in England on water supplies was in the last period for which figures are available.

Elliot Morley: Average household bills are only available for England and Wales combined as the boundaries of water and sewerage companies do not follow national boundaries. In 2005–06 households will spend on average £134 on water supplies and the average amount households will spend on sewerage is £144. The total average household bill for water and sewerage in England and Wales is £278.

Nuclear Waste (Portsmouth)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Leyton and Wanstead of 21 June 2005, Official Report, column 887W, on nuclear waste, what the location is of the radioactive waste in Portsmouth; how much material is stored; how long it has been stored in this location; from where the material originated; who is responsible for the security of the site; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Information about the amount of intermediate (ILW) and low level (LLW) radioactive waste held in the UK, including that held at HM Naval Base Portsmouth, is regularly published in the UK Kingdom Radioactive Waste Inventory which provides periodic snapshots of waste stocks. The latest edition for 2001 was published in 2002. However, MOD has provided additional information to answer some of the hon. Member's questions.
	At HM Naval Base Portsmouth solid LLW, very low-level (VLLW) and small quantities of ILW, are securely stored in a radioactive storehouse facility under the radiological control of the MOD Naval Base Radiation Safety Officer. The Inventory indicates that 3 cubic meters of LLW and less than 0.1 cubic meters of ILW are stored. ILW and LLW is stored for a maximum of three years before it is removal from the site, while VLLW is either disposed of immediately or stored for a period not exceeding 14 days.
	The wastes primarily consists of naval equipment, such as dials, gauges, compasses and gaseous tritium light sources, which have been removed from naval vessels that have left service and are in the process of disposal. In addition, small quantities of LLW are also stored at the Naval Base on behalf of the Institute of Naval Medicine.
	Security of the stored radioactive waste is maintained through the Captain of the Base.

Primates as Pets

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timetable is for the consultation on primates as pets.

Jim Knight: The question of keeping primates as pets will be considered as part of a wider consultation on the proposed use of the Government's powers under Article 8.2 of Council Regulation 338/97, which is planned for the end of July.
	Under this power EU member states may take measures to prohibit the keeping of endangered species, including primates, although such action must be broadly consistent with the conservation objectives of the Regulation as a whole.

Radioactive Waste Disposal

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs following the release by NIREX on 10 June of the list drawn up by its consultants of 537 sites across the country deemed potentially geologically suitable to locate a nuclear waste disposal repository, if she will make it her policy to postpone for three months the deadline of 27 June set by the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management prior to the release of the list, for responses to its current second stage public consultation on radioactive waste management options.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 5 July 2005
	No. This previous site selection exercise was abandoned in 1997. UK Government and the devolved administrations subsequently established the independent Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM), under the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely" programme, to provide recommendation on the best option, or combination of options, for the long-term management of the UK's higher activity radioactive waste. CoRWM will deliver its recommendation by July 2006, in light of which future policy will be decided. Government have said that once the requirements for any future facility, or facilities, is known, in light of that policy decision, there will be an open and transparent discussion of the process and criteria to be adopted for site selection. The old Nirex list will not be the starting point for any future site selection process. There is no site selection process currently on-going. Hence there is no need or justification for extending the deadline for CoRWM's latest round of consultation.

Seal products

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received about the Canadian seal hunt.

Jim Knight: We have no record of representations received about the Canadian seal hunt as Defra officials forward any such correspondence or queries to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who deal with this issue.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advise me that during the past 12 months (July 2004 to July 2005), they have received the following representations in relation to the seal hunt in Canada:
	Letters from members of the public: 20
	Letters from Members of Parliament: 24
	Meetings with Foreign Office Ministers: 1

Sugar Beet Growers

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether compensation payments to sugar beet growers will be paid at the same rate as to other EU growers; and whether the proposed mechanism for payment includes mandatory decoupling.

Jim Knight: Proposals published by the European Commission on 22 June as part of a package of sugar reform measures include an amendment to Council Regulation 1782/2003 which provides the legal framework for the Single Payment Scheme (SPS). That amendment would provide for new decoupled income support for beet growers which would be integrated into the model of the SPS that member state have already adopted. National financial ceilings for the SPS will be raised accordingly, by amounts calculated with reference to member states' sugar production quota levels. It follows that payment rates for sugar beet growers will not be uniform across the EU any more than they are in the SPS at the moment.

Water Metering (Essex)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the number of households in Essex which have water meters.

Elliot Morley: Information on the number of households with water meters is not available by county. The Office of Water Services (Ofwat) collects the information for each water company. In 2005–06 there are expected to be 258,000 households that have water meters in Essex and Suffolk Water's supply area.
	These figures are published in Ofwat's Tariff structure and charges 2005–06 report'.

Whaling

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will press Norway to stop commercial whaling.

Ben Bradshaw: We will continue to press Norway to desist from commercial whaling, which we believe contrary to the spirit of the International Whaling Commission moratorium. We made our objections very clear with regard to Norwegian whaling at the recent annual International Whaling Commission meeting in Korea. I also raised the matter with the Norwegian Fisheries Minister during a visit to Norway in November 2004.

Yorkshire Water

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make representations to Yorkshire Water to ensure that regular maintenance is carried out on all pipes, drains and waterways.

Elliot Morley: Under section 94 of the Water Industry Act 1991, which is enforced by the Office of Water Services, it is the duty of every sewerage undertaker to provide, improve and extend a system of public sewers and to cleanse and maintain those sewers and lateral drains which belong to or are vested in the undertaker to ensure that an area is and continues to be effectually drained.

TREASURY

Child Care Vouchers

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had concerning extending eligibility for childcare vouchers to the self-employed; and what estimates he has made of the costs of doing so.

Dawn Primarolo: It is a general principle of the tax system that relief is not given for private expenditure incurred to enable an employee to go out to work, but only for expenses incurred in the performance of his or her duties of employment. This means that the expense must be one that any other employee doing the same job would have to incur whatever his or her personal circumstances.
	Allowing a tax deduction for the cost of childcare for all working parents, rather than through a targeted exemption, would be expensive and poorly targeted. We believe that financial help for parents towards childcare costs should be provided through the tax credits system. Self employed people can receive help with the cost of formal childcare through the childcare element of the working tax credit.

Child Care Vouchers

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what projections he has made of the take-up of the (a) electronic elements and (b) paper elements of the salary-sacrifice childcare voucher scheme.

Dawn Primarolo: In the Regulatory Impact Assessment published in April 2004, HMRC estimated that the number of employees using childcare vouchers for under-fives will increase from 30,000 in 2003 to 90,000 by 2009–10. There is no breakdown between electronic and paper vouchers.
	Additionally, other forms of employer-provided childcare were expected to grow over the same period from 30,000 (the number of users of workplace nurseries) to 85,000 (including holiday play schemes and out of school clubs).
	The Regulatory Impact Assessment can be accessed via www.hmrc.gov.uk/ria/emp-supp-childcare.pdf

Child Care Vouchers

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made of the cost to business of introducing childcare vouchers, with particular reference to small and medium sized companies.

Dawn Primarolo: This information can be found in the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) at Paragraphs 15–21. The RIA can be assessed on the HMRC Website at www.hmrc.gov.uk/ria/emp-supp-childcare.pdf

Child Care Vouchers

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Treasury of introducing childcare vouchers over the next three years; and from what budget this cost is to be met.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimated Exchequer costs to 2009/-0 were included in paragraph 14 of the Regulatory Impact Assessments which can be accessed at the HMRC'S website at www.hmrc.gov.uk/ria/emp-supp-childcare.pdf
	Costings up to 2006–07 were included in the Pre-Budget Report and this can be accessed at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/28B/c3/pbr03annexb227.pdf

Child Care Vouchers

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the merits of allowing self-employed people to present a certificate from an Ofsted-registered child carer at the end of each tax year in order to claim a rebate on their tax return, in lieu of their ability to claim salary-sacrifice childcare vouchers.

Dawn Primarolo: Allowing a tax rebate for the cost of childcare for all self-employed parents would be expensive and poorly targeted. However, self-employed people can receive help with the cost of formal childcare through the childcare element of the working tax credit.

Child Care Vouchers

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which company administers the electronic vouchers element of the salary-sacrifice childcare vouchers scheme; and which computer systems are used for that administration.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government provides a tax and National Insurance contributions exemption on employer-provided childcare vouchers to encourage employers to help their employees with childcare costs.
	It is up to employers whether the vouchers they provide are paper or electronic and also whether they administer schemes themselves or outsource to voucher provider companies.
	A number of these companies offer employers an electronic facility for handling their employee childcare voucher schemes.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which (a) external advisers, (b) academics and (c) consultants (i) his Department and (ii) the Valuation Office Agency have consulted on council tax revaluation.

Dawn Primarolo: The independent inquiry into local Government funding, led by Sir Michael Lyons, is considering the case for reforms to council tax, taking into account the forthcoming revaluation of domestic property. The inquiry has undertaken a wide programme of consultation.
	Further to this, the Valuation Office Agency have consulted with relevant experts to develop their appraisal methodology. They have taken advice from Cole Layer Trumble (CLT) in respect of computer modelling and mass appraisal techniques; the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO), the International Property Tax Institute (IPTI), the Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation (IRRV) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RIGS) in respect of academic advice and input to international valuation standards and KPMG as business advisers.

Departmental Advertising

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the (a) Department and (b) non-departmental bodies for which the Department is responsible has spent on advertising, in the last three years broken down by media type.

David Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Department spent on advertising in each of the last five years.

John Healey: I refer to the answers given to the hon. Member for North-West Norfolk (Mr. Bellingham) on 21 February 2005, Official Report, column 810W, and to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 7 May 2002, Official Report, column 36W. The only type of advertising undertaken by the Treasury in the last five years has been advertising for the purpose of staff recruitment. The amounts spent on recruitment advertising, separate from other recruitment costs, are not available for years prior to 2002–03. The Treasury's estimated spending on staff recruitment advertising in 2004–05 was £151,000.
	Expenditure on advertising by the Statistics Commission, the Treasury's only non-departmental public body, was £13,000 in 2002–03, £22,000 in 2003–04, and £12,000 in 2004–05.
	Media used included both print and the internet.

Hospital-acquired Infections

Hugo Swire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many reported deaths in hospital there were from clostridium difficile O27 in each of the past five years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Hugo Swire, dated 6 July 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many reported deaths in hospital there were from Clostridium difficile O27 in each of the last five years. I am replying in his absence. (9458)
	It is not possible to distinguish between deaths associated with Clostridium difficile O27 and other strains of C. difficile. The vast majority of cases are diagnosed by the detection of specific toxins, and not the growth of C. difficile. However, typing, which is required to distinguish cases associated with C- difficile O27 from cases associated with other strains of C. difficile, requires growth of C. difficile. It is unlikely that the strain of C. difficile a patient had would be reported on their death certificate.
	In the Tenth Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), deaths involving enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile can all be identified from the code A04.7. Enterocolitis is the commonest illness caused by C. difficile infection. For causes other than enterocolitis that are also known to be associated with C. difficile, it is not possible to identify from ICD codes alone the number of deaths where C, difficile actually contributed to the death. For this reason, the only routinely available mortality statistics on C. difficile are those where it was associated with enterocolitis. These figures were provided in answer to a question from Mr. David Lidington MP, Hansard Written Answer 3764, page 49W.

Hypothermia

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the excess winter mortality rates were in terms of (a) numbers and (b) percentages in (i) the United Kingdom, (ii) England, (iii) Scotland, (iv) Wales, (v)Greater London and (vi) the Southend area for (A)those aged (1) 60 to 64 years, (2) 65 to 79 years and (3) over 80 years and (B) all ages in each of the last five years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. David Amess, dated 6 July 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the excess winter mortality rates were in terms of (a) numbers, and (b) percentages in (i) the United Kingdom, (ii) England , (iii) Scotland, (iv) Wales, (v) Greater London, and (vi) the Southend area of those aged (A) 60 to 64 years, (B) 65 to 79 years, (C) over 80 years, and (D) all ages in each of the last five years. I am replying in his absence. (9911)
	Estimates of excess winter mortality are not routinely calculated for the United Kingdom. However, figures for England and Wales and Government Office Regions in England are published. Estimates for winters to 2002/03 (with provisional figures for 2003/2004) can be found in the report, Excess Winter Mortality—By Age Group and Region" on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=7089
	The most recent available excess winter mortality estimates for local authorities are for the winter 2002/03. Figures requested for Southend-on-Sea local authority are given in the table below for the years 1998/99 to 2002/03. An age-breakdown has not been provided because of the small numbers involved.
	
		Excess winter deaths(15)for the local authority of Southend-on-Sea, 1998–99 to 2002–03
		
			 Winter (a) Number of excess winter deaths(16) (b) Percentage of excess winter mortality(17) 
		
		
			 1998–99 160 23.8 
			 1999–2000 200 29.7 
			 2000–01 160 23.6 
			 2001–02 110 16.8 
			 2002–03 160 25.4 
		
	
	(15)Excess winter deaths are defined by the Office for National Statistics as the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding four months (August to November) and the following four months (April to July).
	(16)Rounded to the nearest 10.
	(17)The percentage of excess winter mortality is calculated as the excess number of winter deaths divided by the average number of non-winter deaths, expressed as a percentage.

Private Finance Initiative

Alan Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Government have so far committed to private finance initiative schemes; and what the future financial projections for PFI initiatives are for each of the next five years.

John Healey: The most recent published estimate of payments to be made under signed PFI contracts in future years can be found in table C19 of Budget 2005 available online at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk. Estimates for previous years can be found in previous Budget publications.

Rural Banking Services

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures the Government is taking to encourage banks to maintain banking services in small rural communities.

Ivan Lewis: All of the main high street banks and building societies are signed up to the Banking Codes, which has been recently independently reviewed. Out of the five recommendations made by the independent reviewer on bank closures, four were accepted outright. Through the Banking Codes there is now an obligation for subscribers to:
	give customers extended notice of branch closure if the road distance of the nearest alternative branch is more than one mile in urban areas or more than four miles in rural areas;
	explain how they continue to provide services after the branch has been closed in a way that is specific to local provision;
	give notice of a substantial reduction in opening hours; and,
	explain to small businesses how they continue to provide banking services, including any inter-bank agency arrangement, if they exist.
	Our approach to improving services in rural areas is to work with communities to help them understand and articulate their needs to those who deliver services.
	This sort of collaborative working, based on the principles in our strategy for rural areas, will ensure that communities benefit from our programmes to modernise, improve and support services and will enable communities to help themselves to meet the needs of local people.

Ryscar House, Blackpool

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the closure of Ryscar House, Blackpool will have on the number and accuracy of working tax and child tax credit awards.

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment has been made of the impact on (a) costs and (b) service to the public, of the closure of Ryscar House, Blackpool;
	(2)  if he will make it his policy to reverse the decision to close Ryscar House, Blackpool;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the number of staff at Ryscar House who will opt for redundancy rather than moving to another part of the country as a result of the planned closure; what assessment he has made of the likely effects on benefit claimants; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  if he will make available to trade unions the business case for the closure of Ryscar House, Blackpool.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 30 June 2005
	No decision has been taken to close the HM Revenue and Customs office at Ryscar House.
	HMRC is preparing business plans to meet its efficiency savings for 2005–08, but no decision have yet been made in this process. It is therefore too early to say how any particular office might be affected. All proposals that are drawn up as part of this work will be subject to a comprehensive social, economic and service delivery impact assessment.
	HMRC is committed to good industrial relations. It has established a programme of regular consultations with the trade unions to discuss major changes across the Department's businesses.

Tax Avoidance Schemes

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to ban accountancy, law and other firms from charging contingency fees for selling tax avoidance schemes.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government are committed to protecting the tax system against tax avoidance. Since 1997 the Government have taken a series of steps to prevent abuse of the tax system through structural reforms that made the system less vulnerable, closing loopholes in the law and improving the way that HM Revenue and Customs delivers its compliance function. In his 2004 Budget Statement, the Chancellor announced the introduction of disclosure rules for direct tax and VAT, to require notification of avoidance schemes. Contingency fees are one of the features of both direct tax and VAT avoidance that can trigger a disclosure requirement.

Tax Avoidance Schemes

Austin Mitchell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will investigate the role of KPMG, PwC, Ernst and Young and Deloitte in devising and selling tax avoidance schemes.

Dawn Primarolo: As part of the Government's commitment to protect the tax system against tax avoidance, the Chancellor announced the introduction of disclosure rules for direct tax in his 2004 Budget Statement. These rules require all promoters to disclose certain tax avoidance schemes to HMRC. HMRC reviews each scheme.

Tax Avoidance Schemes

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce a general anti-avoidance rule to curb tax avoidance.

Dawn Primarolo: In his 2004 Budget Statement, the Chancellor announced that he did not intend to introduce a general anti-avoidance rule at this stage. The Government continue to keep under review a range of options to deter non-compliance and encourage voluntary compliance, ensuring fairness of the tax system.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are employed in HM Revenue and Customs to handle (a) tax credit complaints, (b) telephone calls about tax credits and (c) compensation for HM Revenue and Custom's errors relating to tax credits; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: At 28 May 2005 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) had nearly 400 full-time equivalent staff working in the Tax Credit Office handling tax credit complaints. These staff also deal with compensation in accordance with complaints and redress procedures explained in the Department's code of practice 1: Putting things right".
	The number of full-time equivalent staff employed to work on dedicated tax credits helplines at 28 May 2005 was around 3,200. In addition, HMRC can use another 500 staff to answer tax credit calls at peak times.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1) what proportion of tax credit appeals against overpayment have been upheld to date; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many appeals against overpaid tax credits have been received by HM Revenue and Customs for each quarter since 2003 Q1; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Taxpayers have a right of appeal against decisions about their tax credit entitlement and they are able to pursue with HMRC any disagreement concerning the recovery of an overpayment.
	The Department's code of practice 26, What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?' describes their approach to overpayments and is available on the internet at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/leaflets/cop26.pdf
	The code explains that the Department will not expect customers to pay back an overpayment if it arose because of their mistake and the customer could reasonably have thought their award was correct.
	To 31 May 2005 the Tax Credit Office had dealt with around 151,000 disputed overpayment requests and written off the overpayment in around 36,000 cases (approximately 24 per cent.).
	The Department began recording intake of disputed overpayment requests in May 2004. Intake each quarter from May 2004 is as follows:
	
		
			 Quarter Disputes received 
		
		
			 April to June 2004 14,000 
			 July to September 2004 54,000 
			 October to December 2004 63,000 
			 January to March 2005 84,000 
			 April to 31 May 2005 56,000

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he received from the (a) Inland Revenue and (b) external IT suppliers about the timescale for the introduction of the new tax credits prior to April 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The development of Government policy on tax credits involved extensive discussions between Treasury Ministers and Inland Revenue Officials. I am not aware that Ministers received representations directly from external IT suppliers.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1) how many people had in-year recovery of excess tax credits in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05; and what the total value of excess payments was in each year;
	(2)  what his estimate is of the number of excess payments of tax credit in the 2003–04 year which had been recovered by the end of the financial year; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers I gave him on 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 98W (8580) and column 102W (8022).

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the statement of 22 June 2005, Official Report, columns 801–14, by the Paymaster General, on tax credits, whether he has accepted in full the recommendations in paragraph (a) 5.41, (b) 5.51, (c) 5.65 and (d) 7.14 of the Parliamentary Ombudsman's report.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement I made in the House on 26 May 2005, Official Report, columns 22–23WA and the oral statement I made to the House on 22 June 2005, Official Report, columns 801–14.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the statement of 22 June 2005, Official Report, columns 801–14, by the Paymaster General, on tax credits, whether changes to the tax credit IT system are required to ensure that an in-year excess tax credit payment that is recoverable in accordance with COP 26 will be recovered at the same rate as those for previous year overpayments.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made to the House on 26 May 2005, Official Report, column 22WS.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the statement of 22 June 2005, Official Report, columns 801–14, by the Paymaster General, on tax credits, whether changes to the tax credit IT system are required in order to comply with the recommendation in paragraph 5.17 of the Parliamentary Ombudsman's report; and whether he accepts the recommendation.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 26 May 2005, Official Report, column 22WS.
	HMRC will urgently ensure that in cases of genuine hardship where the recovery of an overpayment is disputed, recovery can be suspended while the dispute is resolved.

Tesco (VAT Avoidance)

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take action against Tesco for selling CDs and DVDs on the internet in relation to VAT avoidance.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government do not intend to prevent businesses from using the internet to market sales of CDs and DVDs. However, we are aware that some businesses are restructuring their operations in order to achieve VAT-free sales of certain goods to UK consumers. The Government are keeping this issue under close review.

VAT (Condoms)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the annual cost of exempting VAT on condoms; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs does not collect data on VAT from individual goods and services. The Government keeps all taxes under review and any assessments and subsequent changes are announced as part of the normal Budget process.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Arson Attacks

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many arson attacks there were on schools in (a) Southend, (b) Essex and (c) each London borough in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: Because the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) has overall policy lead for fire safety and arson reduction across Government Departments, it is ODPM rather than this Department that compiles statistics on fires in schools.
	The latest data we have on school fires from ODPM cover the years 2000 to 2004. They are not able to provide figures for sub-fire brigade areas, such as Southend or the London boroughs. These are figures for Essex and Greater London.
	
		Deliberate fires in schools by year
		
			 Area 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 England 752 852 664 753 664 
			 Essex 16 15 5 22 13 
			 Greater London 59 90 22 54 49 
		
	
	Figures for 2004 are provisional, and those for 2002 and 2003 exclude incidents not recorded during periods of industrial action.

Behaviour Improvement Programme

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the local education authorities that have received funds under the Behaviour Improvement Programme; and how much each has received to enable them to tackle pupil behaviour in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

Behaviour Improvement Programme

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what targets have been set for the Behaviour Improvement Programme.

Jacqui Smith: The Behaviour Improvement Programme is intended to be tailored to local circumstances. Schools and measures are identified locally, and partnerships are monitored against the key objectives of improved behaviour, improved attendance, reduced unauthorised absence and reduced exclusions. Specific performance targets are agreed locally between the Excellence in Cities partnership and schools and are set for both individual terms and academic years, covering attendance, unauthorised absence and exclusions.

Bullying

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what requirement there is for schools to make their anti-bullying policy available to (a) parents and (b) prospective parents.

Jacqui Smith: Under section S61 of the School Standards Framework Act 1998, all schools are required to publicise the school's anti-bullying policy in written form to the parents of those pupils registered at the school, as well as all members of the school community.
	In addition the law requires that the policy is brought to the attention of pupils, parents, those employed by the school and those who provide their services to the school at least once a year. Our guidance also states that not only should the information be available to parents, but that they should be actively involved in its preparation and review.
	At present there is no legal requirement to make the policy available to the parents of prospective pupils, but guidance states that all new pupils are provided with the policy.

Bullying

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance she has issued to schools on appropriate sanctions to deal with bullying.

Jacqui Smith: The Bullying: Don't Suffer in Silence" packs issued by the Department contain clear guidance on appropriate sanctions to deal with bullying.
	Where pupils do not respond to preventive strategies, we recommend that schools have a clear and sufficient range of sanctions in place to tackle the issue, and that these sanctions are publicised to the whole school community.
	Suggested sanctions include, removal from the group/class, withdrawal from break and lunchtime privileges, completion of extra written work, carrying out a useful task in the school, detention, withholding participation in school trips and events not essential to the curriculum, and fixed period exclusion.
	Where serious real or threatened violence is involved, the head teacher can permanently exclude the pupil. To further enforce this appeal panels and governing bodies have been advised that they should not normally seek to overrule such a decision on appeal.
	In addition we advise that punishments that are humiliating or degrading should not be used, and that sanctions should be applied fairly and consistently to all pupils.
	For further information, please visit http://www.dfes.gov.uk/bullying/ and view the Bullying: Don't Suffer in Silence" pack.

Bullying

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to her answer of 21 June 2005, Official Report, column 990W, on bullying, if she will place in the Library a copy of the work commissioned by the Youth Crime Programme Board on the onset of offending and the impact of her Department's policies.

Jacqui Smith: The work undertaken by officials on the Youth Crime Programme Board was policy advice within Government, which would not be appropriate to place in the Library. This work drew on published research—in particular Support from the Start," a review commissioned by my Department of the evidence on preventing youth offending, which is available in the Library.

Bullying

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to her Answer of 21 June 2005, Official Report, column 993W, on bullying, if she will place in the Library a copy of the effective practice digest that accompanies the anti-bullying Charter for Action.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested has now been placed in the House Libraries.

Bullying

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the Anti-Bullying Alliance is accountable to the Department for its use of its Government grant.

Jacqui Smith: Expenditure by the ABA is subject to formal and informal monitoring to confirm that the grant awarded has been spent in accordance with the project plan agreed by the ABA and the Department.
	The grant is payable under Regulation 15 of the Education (Grant) Regulations 1990 and is subject to Regulations 18(2) of those regulations.
	We will be looking for auditors' confirmation that the grant has been claimed and used in compliance with the terms and conditions as set out in the grant allocation in year end accounts.
	In addition, officials hold regular meetings with the ABA to monitor activity and review progress.

Drug Awareness and Prevention (Southend)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers who specialise in drug awareness and prevention are employed in schools in Southend West constituency.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make extra provision available for 16 to 19-year-olds claiming the education maintenance allowance who live in London to reflect the higher cost of living.

Maria Eagle: We do not currently have any plans to make extra payments to young people claiming EMA who live in London. EMA is intended as a contribution towards the cost of staying on in further education rather than as part of family support.
	Evidence from EMA pilots would not support the case for more generous arrangements in London. We piloted a less generous version of the scheme in London, using an income threshold of £20,000 rather than the standard £30,000 piloted elsewhere and now adopted nationally. This was done with the agreement of the London LEAs, in order to allow us to fund EMA across a larger area of inner London. The evidence indicated that this variant of EMA also increased participation among eligible young people.

Educational Buildings (Sprinkler Systems)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make it her policy to make the fitting of sprinkler systems in educational buildings mandatory.

Jacqui Smith: Since April 2001, all new building work at schools has been subject to the Building Regulations, which are the responsibility of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM). These regulations do not currently require the installation of sprinklers in schools, but that does not prohibit local education authorities from specifying their use.
	We believe that the decision on whether to install sprinklers is best taken locally. For example, in our Managing School Facilities guide 6, Fire Safety", we give the example of a school in an area of high arson risk as being a suitable candidate for having sprinklers installed. However, we are mindful of the need to provide more detailed advice than before. Liaising with ODPM, we have therefore produced new draft guidance on fire safety—Building Bulletin (BB) 100, Designing and Managing Against the Risk of Fire in Schools". It stresses the value of using risk assessments to determine what sort of fire detection and alarm systems should be used in each school, and whether or not sprinklers should be installed. The draft of BB 100 will be going out to public consultation shortly and should be published by the end of 2005.
	Concurrently ODPM is carrying out a review of the fire safety aspects of the Building Regulations and its accompanying guidance Approved Document B (AD B). We understand that this should be completed in the early part of 2006.

Essex Schoolchildren

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children of school age in Essex are not attending either a state school or a private school.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Pupils educated otherwise than at school under arrangements made by the local education authority(18)—January 2005
		
			  England Essex local education authority 
		
		
			 Pupils in hospital(19) 243 0 
			 Other pupils not in school(20) 16,741 333 
			 Total pupils not in school 16,984 333 
		
	
	(18)Pupils of compulsory school age (5–15) as at 31 August 2004.
	(19)Includes non-statemented pupils in hospital excluding pupils in maintained general hospital or special hospital schools.
	(20)Includes other pupils not in school e.g. pupils taught at home, Traveller children, asylum seekers at FE colleges or with voluntary sector providers.
	Source:
	8B Survey

Food Procurement

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent by her Department on public procurement of food in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what proportion of that expenditure was covered under Crown immunity on food safety matters.

Maria Eagle: The Department for Education and Skills spent on public procurement of food a total of £619,332.85 in the most recent year figures. The Crown is not immune" from the requirements of health and safety legislation generally. No proportion of the Department's expenditure on food and catering is therefore covered under Crown immunity.

Foster Care

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2005, Official Report, columns 1623–24W, on foster care, what assessment she has made of the reasons for the change in the amount spent on external foster care.

Maria Eagle: Changes in the amount spent on external foster care reflect decisions made by individual local authorities about how best to provide care for the children for whom they are responsible. Over 40,000 looked after children (out of approximately 61,000 children who are looked after by local authorities at any one time) are placed with foster carers. Decisions about spending on specific categories of foster care are made at local level, in the light of children's individual circumstances and needs. However, the emergence in recent years of a market in foster care, comprising statutory sector, voluntary sector and independent sector providers, has contributed to the development of greater choice in placements for looked after children and helps ensure that specialised needs can be met. The Government have taken forward a number of strands of work to encourage more strategic approaches, at local level, to the commissioning of placements and services, and to encourage greater awareness and understanding among commissioners of the cost implications of placement decisions.

Further Education Funding

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many local education authorities in England have received a reduced further education funding allocation in the 2005–06 settlement.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 30 June 2005
	Based upon current Learning and Skills Council records, 40 local education authorities in England have received a reduced further education funding allocation in the 2005–06 settlement in comparison with 2004–05.

Key Stage 4

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of work related learning at Key Stage 4 takes place (a) in the classroom and (b) in work placements.

Jacqui Smith: Schools are not required to maintain records on how work related learning is delivered at Key Stage 4. It is taught across the curriculum, using work contexts to enrich subject teaching. For example, visitors to the classroom and the use of business-related materials provide good opportunities for work related learning, so out of school experiences are not the only way to acquire work related learning.
	Work experience is an essential element of the statutory requirement, and reaches over 90 pr cent. of students for between one and two weeks at Key Stage 4.

New Schools

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many competitions have been held by local education authorities to find alternative providers for new schools; and what the outcome was of each;
	(2)  what guidance has been issued to local education authorities on holding competitions for new and replacement schools.

Jacqui Smith: There have been no competitions held by local authorities to find alternative providers for new schools. The current requirement for local authorities to hold a competition applies only where a local authority intends to publish proposals for a new school that does not replace an existing secondary school. Provisions in the Education Act 2005 will require a competition whenever proposals are required for a new secondary school, including one replacing an existing school as a result of reorganisation, unless the Secretary of State agrees that in a particular case individual proposals are more appropriate.
	Existing guidance on holding competitions for new schools is contained in the Information pack for Promoters and LEAs" issued in May 2003, and there is also information in the guidance for Decision Makers, which deals with statutory proposals of all kinds. Updated guidance on the new arrangements for school competitions will be issued, after consultation, when the extended provisions on school competitions are commenced.

Parliamentary Government

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department is taking to promote (a) knowledge of and (b) interest in parliamentary Government through schools.

Jacqui Smith: Understanding the role and operation of Parliament and Government in our democracy is an important part of citizenship education. Pupils learn about the institutions, issues, and practices of our democracy and how citizens can become involved in their community. The Department has supported a range of projects to engage pupils in this learning. These include working with the Hansard Society to run Y Vote mock elections", giving pupils the opportunity to stand as party candidates, speech writers and canvassers in a mock election.

Parliamentary Questions

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she expects to answer the Question reference 5018 tabled by the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton on 13 June.

Jacqui Smith: A response was issued on 5 July.

Post-16 Education

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will announce the funding regime for 16–19 years capital projects.

Jacqui Smith: The Learning and Skills Council plans to issue guidance on the operation of the new 16–19 capital fund later in the summer.

School Fees

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in what circumstances a local education authority may pay fees on behalf of a pupil attending an independent school.

Jacqui Smith: Local authorities have powers under section 517 of the Education Act 1996 to purchase places in independent schools. Under this provision a local authority may purchase places at an independent school if it is satisfied that there are insufficient places in all of its maintained schools or in those schools maintained by neighbouring authorities to enable the authority to provide education suitable to a pupil's age, ability and aptitude or to any special educational needs the pupil may have.
	Section 128 of the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998 provides for local authorities powers to purchase places at mainstream independent schools to be limited to circumstances prescribed in regulations. No regulations have been made under this section.
	Section 348 of the 1996 Act also allows local authorities to pay fees on behalf of a child attending an independent school when the school is specified in a statement in respect of the child under section 324 of the act. Under this provision the local authority has to be satisfied:
	(a) that his interests require the necessary special educational provision to be made for him at a school which is not a maintained school, and
	(b) that it is appropriate for the child to be provided with education at the particular school.

School Meals

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make it her policy to fund the full cost of meeting the recommendations of the School Meals Review Panel.

Jacqui Smith: The Panel will submit its recommendations to the Secretary of State in September. The recommendations will then go out to public consultation, and at this point an appraisal of implementation costs will be carried out. The Department has already pledged £220 million over three years, which is intended to supplement the income derived from, and offset the additional costs of improving school meals. At this point we do not anticipate providing any further funding.

Student Numbers

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the Answer of 14 June 2005, Official Report, column 370W, on student numbers, what plans her Department has to produce projections of student numbers for subjects identified as significant for the competitiveness of the UK economy.

Bill Rammell: Although the Department collects data on number of students by subject of study for monitoring purposes, it does not and could not produce robust projections under the current system in which Higher Education Institutions are entirely free to decide for themselves which students should be admitted to individual subject courses on the basis of student demand and their own strategic priorities. However, we will review the position in the light of the advice we have recently received from the Higher Education Funding Council for England on subjects which are strategically important and will listen to the views of institutions, employers, and others with an interest before responding later in the year.

Taxis

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much the Department has spent on taxis in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The Department of Education and Skills was established in 2001 and the detailed information requested is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	All travel and subsistence is conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers and the Civil Service Management Code.

University Graduates

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research she has undertaken into (a) the length of time graduates take to find employment following graduation and (b) the starting salaries of new graduates.

Bill Rammell: From the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey, we know that nearly three-quarters (71 per cent.) of full-time 2002/03 graduates were in employment six months after leaving (with a further 16 per cent. in further study alone and 7 per cent. assumed unemployed).
	However, we also know that destinations at the six month point are not representative of longer-term outcomes. Therefore the Department also commissions and monitors wider research to investigate later transitions in and out of the labour market. A survey of 1995 graduates, tracked up to seven years after graduation, shows a significant rise in employment rates over time. After two years post-graduation, 84 per cent. of graduates were in work rising further still to 95 per cent. seven years after leaving 1 .
	Data on starting salaries is also available from theDLHE survey, showing that the median salary for 2002/03 leavers in full-time work was £17,000. Other sources include the Graduate Prospects annual survey of vacancies advertised in university careers centres; the most recent estimate showed a median starting salary of £18,000 for 2003/04. This is more representative of the salaries enjoyed by those entering graduate-level jobs (and over 80 per cent. of graduates enter these types of jobs within 3/4 years of graduation).
	DfES also estimates that graduates earn, on average, around £120,000 more over their lifetime—in present value terms—than 2+A level holders.
	This evidence is continually being updated. The statistical release for the 2003/04 DLHE will be published in July, and research commissioned by DfES tracking a cohort of 1999 graduates up to four years after leaving university will be published in the next few months. Further, the Department continues to monitor labour market data and new research as it emerges.
	1 Bias, P & K. Purcell (2004) Seven Years On: Graduate Careers in a Changing Labour Market", HECSU and also Elias, P & K. Purcell (forthcoming) Graduate Careers in a Changing Global Market: seven years on". London: Palgrave Macmillan

HEALTH

Adverse Incidents

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many medical device-related adverse incidents in 2004 were reported to have (a) 2, (b) 3 and (c) 4 causes.

Jane Kennedy: The information shown in the following table is derived from initial assessments of the causes of device failures based on incident reports submitted to the Medical Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Different or additional causes may be confirmed following conclusion of incident investigations.
	
		Number of medical device related adverse incidentsreported to have:
		
			  
		
		
			 (a) two causes 1,059 
			 (b) three causes 301 
			 (c) four causes 31 
			   
			 Total number of incidents received in 20049,000

Alliance Medical

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what representations have been made to her Department by (a) chief executives and (b) chairs of strategic health authorities on the role of Alliance Medical in the NHS;
	(2)  what representations have been made to her Department by primary care trusts on the role of Alliance Medical in the NHS.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 30 June 2005
	Some representations have been received about services which Alliance Medical Limited is contracted to provide, but detailed information on representations made is not disclosed, as they may be commercially sensitive and could be detrimental to the provision of free and frank advice.

Antibiotics

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has (a) commissioned and (b) undertaken on the prevalence of the prescription of antibiotics for viral infections.

Jane Kennedy: No specific research has been commissioned but we run education campaigns to convey the message that antibiotics do not work on most coughs and colds.

Cancer Treatment

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate she has made of the cost to the NHS in England in a year of treating (a) prostate, (b) mouth and (c) facial skin cancer.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 5 July 2005
	Information on the costs of treating individual tumours is not collected centrally. Latest information indicates that nearly £3.4 billion was spent by primary care trusts in financial year 2003–04 in treating all cancers.

Consultants

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to issue guidance on effective commissioning for those in the public and voluntary sectors who are commissioning work from external consultants.

Jane Kennedy: The Department provides detailed procurement guidance to its staff, with a direct link to the successful delivery toolkit, as explained by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (John Healey), in his reply of 27 June 2005, Official Report, column 1286W.
	The National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency, together with the Office of Government Commerce, has awarded a series of framework agreements to provide specialist business, professional and information technology consultancy and services to the NHS. This can allow trusts to streamline certain elements of the procurement process.

Cytology

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the hospitals which (a) have introduced liquid-based cytology and (b) are scheduled to introduce liquid-based cytology over the next year.

Rosie Winterton: Since the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published its appraisal of liquid based cytology (LBC) in October 2003, the following hospitals have introduced LBC for cervical screening:
	Royal Hallamshire hospital (Sheffield)
	Royal Victoria infirmary (Newcastle)
	North Tyneside district general
	Birmingham Women's Healthcare
	County hospital Hereford
	Northwick Park hospital (Middlesex)
	Partnership Pathology Services—Guildford
	Southmead hospital (Bristol)
	Musgrove Park hospital (Taunton)
	Norfolk and Norwich hospital
	Addenbrookes hospital (Cambridge)
	West Suffolk hospital (Bury St Edmunds)
	Royal Liverpool hospital
	University hospital Aintree
	Warrington hospital
	Arrowe Park hospital (Wirral)
	Countess of Chester hospital
	Victoria hospital (Blackpool)
	The following hospitals intend to introduce LBC by March 2006:
	Scunthorpe general hospital
	York district hospital
	Diana, Princess of Wales hospital (Grimsby)
	Doncaster Royal infirmary
	Leeds teaching hospitals
	Calderdale Royal (Halifax)
	Chesterfield and North Derby Royal
	Derbyshire Royal infirmary
	Kings Mill hospital (Mansfield)
	Nottingham city hospital
	Pilgrim hospital (Boston)
	Lincoln county hospital
	Good Hope hospital (Sutton Coldfield)
	Princess Royal trust (Telford)
	Chase Farm hospital (Enfield)
	University college hospital (London)
	Ealing hospital
	Hammersmith hospitals
	Queen Mary's hospital (Sidcup)
	St Thomas's hospital (London)
	Kingston hospital
	St Hellier hospital (Surrey)
	Darent Valley hospital (Dartford)
	Medway Maritime
	Pembury hospital (Tunbridge Wells)
	Preston Hall (Mid-Kent Healthcare)
	William Harvey hospital (Ashford)
	Cheltenham general hospital
	Gloucestershire Royal hospital
	Derriford hospital (Plymouth)
	Royal Cornwall hospital (Treliske)
	Royal Devon and Exeter hospital
	Torbay hospital
	Bedford general hospital
	Luton and Dunstable hospital
	Queen Elizabeth II hospital (Welwyn Garden City)
	Watford general hospital
	Queen Elizabeth hospital (King's Lynn)
	James Paget hospital (Great Yarmouth)
	Whiston hospital (Merseyside)
	Leighton hospital (Crewe)
	Macclesfield district hospital
	Blackburn Royal infirmary
	Burnley general hospital
	Chorley and district hospital
	Royal Lancaster infirmary
	Southport general infirmary
	Birch Hill hospital (Rochdale)
	Bury general hospital
	Manchester Cytology Centre
	Royal Bolton hospital
	Royal Oldham hospital
	Stepping Hill hospital (Stockport)
	Tameside general hospital (Lancashire)
	Source
	NHS cancer screening programmes

Dentistry

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will estimate the percentage of the population with no decayed, missing or filled teeth, broken down by (a) age and (b) social class, in each year since 1990.

Rosie Winterton: Dental health surveys are carried out every 10 years. For adults—those aged 16 and over—the last survey was for 1998 and the results are published in Adult Dental Health Survey. Oral Health in the United Kingdom 1998" ISBN 0–11–621268–3. That report contains analyses by age and by social class of the head of household, which includes the percentage of adults who are dentate and the percentage of dentate adults who have 24 or more sound and untreated teeth. The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2.
	
		Table 1: Dental status and number of teeth by age group, 1998, England -- Percentage
		
			   Age  Adults who are dentate Dentate adults with 24 or more sound and untreated teeth 
		
		
			 16–24 100 59 
			 25–34 100 25 
			 35–44 99 9 
			 45–54 95 1 
			 55–64 82 1 
			 65 and over 56 1 
		
	
	Source:
	Adult Dental Heath Survey, 1998, tables 7.1.1 and 7.1.10.
	
		Table 2: Dental status and number of teeth by social class, 1998, England -- Percentage
		
			 Social class of head of household Adults who are dentate Dentate adults with 24 or more sound and untreated teeth 
		
		
			 I, II, III NM 93 18 
			 III M 86 13 
			 IV, V 79 18 
		
	
	Source:
	Adult Dental Heath Survey, 1998, tables 7.1.1 and 7.1.14.
	For children, the dental health surveys were carried out in 1993 and 2003. The report for the year 2003, which, like the adult survey, records encouraging improvements in oral health, is available on the website of the Office for National Statistics at www.statistics.gov.uk/children/dentalhealth/. The report includes a separate report entitled, Social factors and oral health in children", which shows decay experience results for 1993 and 2003 for 12 and 15-year-old children. The percentages of children with obvious decay experience in those years are shown in Tables 3 and 4.
	
		Table 3: Proportions of five, eight, 12 and 15-year-olds with obvious decay experience in permanent teeth, 1993 and 2003, England -- Percentage
		
			 Age 1993 2003 
		
		
			 Primary teeth   
			 5 43 41 
			 8 59 54 
			 Permanent teeth   
			 8 17 12 
			 12 50 31 
			 15 60 46 
		
	
	Note:
	Obvious decay experience includes decay into dentine, filled teeth and missing teeth due to decay.
	Source:
	Children's Dental Health in England, 2003, tables 1.1 and 1.7.
	
		Table 4: Proportions of 12 and 15-year olds with obvious decay experience in permanent teeth by social class, 1993 and 2003, United Kingdom -- Percentage
		
			 Household social class 12-year-olds in 1993 12-year-olds in 2003 15-year-olds in 1993 15-year-olds in 2003 
		
		
			 1,11,11 non-manual 45 28 58 47 
			 III manual 51 40 68 44 
			 IV,V 68 27 72 46 
		
	
	Note:
	Obvious decay experience includes decay into dentine, filled teeth and missing teeth due to decay.
	Source:
	Social factors and oral health in children, tables 5 and 6.

Dentistry

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are on waiting lists for NHS dentists in Milton Keynes.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Dentistry

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to recruit dentists in (a) Greece, (b) Portugal, (c) Germany, (d) Spain and (e) India; and what intermediary organisations are being used.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 20 June 2005
	In Greece, Portugal, Germany and Spain and India smaller numbers of dentists, typically between five and 15 at a time, are being recruited compared with those from Poland (230). No contracts have been set with a recruitment company for activity in Greece, Portugal, Germany, Spain or India.
	In Germany and Spain, a desk officer in the British Consulate advises interested dentists of the recruitment process. In India, a desk officer based in the British High Commission advises dentists who passed the International Qualifying Exam Part A in India this year of the recruitment process. In Greece and Portugal, recruitment events have been held by the Department.

Dentistry

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on general dental practitioners in Milton Keynes over the last three years.

Rosie Winterton: Primary care provided by independent general dental practitioners (GDPs) forms the major element of national health service dental services. Most GDPs operate within the national terms of the general dental service (GDS), although some have opted to provide similar patient services under local contracts agreed with their primary care trust (PCT) as part of the recently introduced personal dental service (PDS). Under the GDS, the main costs are the individual treatment fees, including patient registration payments, payable to dentists; under the PDS, dentists are usually paid a regular contract value for a defined level of NHS commitment. The gross cost of GDS fees and PDS contract payments in the area of the Milton Keynes PCT are shown in the table.
	Expenditure on community and hospital dental services is determined by the relevant local NHS body and expenditure on services in the Milton Keynes area alone is not identifiable from data available centrally.
	
		Gross cost of General Dental and Personal Dental Services within the area of the Milton Keynes PCT -- £ million
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–5 
		
		
			 Gross GDS dental fees (21) 6.484 6.867 6.572 
			 Gross PDS payments 0 0 (22)0.097 
			 Total 6.484 6.867 6.669 
		
	
	Notes:
	(21)Gross GDS fees include all adult and child treatment fees, continuing care and capitation payments, and commitment payments. Certain allowances and costs, such as reimbursement of business rates, seniority payments, and employers' superannuation contributions, are excluded.
	(22)The PDS scheme in Milton Keynes PCT started on 28 January 2005 and this figure therefore represents approximately two months of payments.
	Notes:
	1.All costs are shown gross of any income contributed by dental charges payable by patients.
	2.Figures extracted from payment data held by the Dental Practice Board.

Dentistry

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cost of running the Milton Keynes dental access centres in the last three years; and how much capital expenditure there was on setting up these centres.

Rosie Winterton: The dental access centres in Milton Keynes are commissioned by the primary care trust and full cost information is not held centrally. However, the Department has made the following central contributions to the cost of this service over the last three years, which is shown in the table.
	
		£
		
			  Revenue Capital 
		
		
			 2002–03 373,000 160,000 
			 2003–04 670,000 0 
			 2004–05 779,000 0

Dentistry

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been treated (a) by NHS general dental practitioners and (b) at dental access centres in Milton Keynes in each of the last three years.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		General dental services (GDS) and personal dental services (PDS)—number of patients who have been treated within the Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust (PCT) area
		
			 Year (ending March) GDS and PDS patients Dental access centre patients Patients who attended both Total patients 
		
		
			 2005 75,830 5,030 907 79,953 
			 2004 82,119 3,744 1,046 84,817 
			 2003 80,328 4,087 856 83,559 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.GDS and PDS patients—patients who have been treated under GDS and PDS, excluding dental access centres during the year
	2.Dental access centre patients—patients who have been treated in the dental access centre during the year
	3.Patients who attended both—patients who have been treated in both of the above during the year
	4.Total patients—number of individual patients treated in Milton Keynes PCT area during the year.
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board

Dentistry

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists in the Hertford and Stortford constituency had live Personal Dental Services contracts by 1 June.

Rosie Winterton: As at 31 May 2005, there were three registered dentists within Hertford and Stortford parliamentary constituency with a personal dental services contract. Hertford and Stortford parliamentary constituency is covered by South East Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Royston, Buntingford and Bishops Stortford PCT.

Diabetes

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) adults and (b) children were diagnosed with diabetes in London was in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Domestic Violence

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts provide psychotherapy support for those affected by domestic violence.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not centrally available.

Edgware Hospital

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 28 June 2005, Official Report, column 1503W, what further work is necessary; when she expects a decision to be taken; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Department continues to support the North Central London Strategic Health Authority (SHA) in this area with regard to the use of Alliance Medical Ltd. mobile magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit at Edgware Hospital. Further work is required to provide the necessary infrastructure to support the mobile MRI unit at Edgware Hospital and the time scale for this will be lead by the SHA.

Health Care Acquired Infections

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which health care acquired infections are subject to mandatory reporting; when that reporting commenced; which are not subject to mandatory reporting; and for what reasons.

Jane Kennedy: The components of the mandatory surveillance system for health care associated infection and the dates when reporting started are:
	Bloodstream infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, including susceptibility to methicillin (MRSA)—from 1 April 2001
	Bloodstream infections caused by glycopeptide resistant enterococci—from 1 October 2003
	Diarrhoea associated with Clostridium difficile—from 1 January 2004
	Orthopaedic surgical site infections—from 1 April 2004
	Serious untoward incidents—from September 2003.
	The above were selected for mandatory surveillance because information on them has national relevance and they act as markers of infection control. Virtually all micro-organisms can cause health care associated infections and prioritisation is essential to ensure that only significant infections are included in the mandatory systems. We expect that new infections will be added in the future in line with scientific advice.
	Information on infections not included in the mandatory system is available from the Heath Protection Agency's voluntary reporting systems and there are local surveillance systems.

Health Care Acquired Infections

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she plans to include acinetobacter bacteraemia within the mandatory surveillance systems for hospital acquired infection; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: There are no plans to include bacteraemias due to acinetobactor in the mandatory surveillance system at present. Decisions on extending surveillance will be made in the light of any advice from the Health Protection Agency's steering group on health care associated infections.

Health Care Acquired Infections

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) wards and (b) beds in (i) East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust and (ii) West Hertfordshire NHS Trust were isolated owing to hospital-acquired infection incidence during (A) 2001–02, (B) 2002–03, (C)2003–04 and (D) 2004–05; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not held centrally.

Health Care Acquired Infections

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people died as a result of (a) MRSA and (b) other hospital-acquired infections in hospitals in (i)East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust and (ii)West Hertfordshire NHS Trust in (A) 2001–02, (B)2002–03, (C) 2003–04 and (D) 2004–05; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not held centrally. However, the numbers of meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia reports for East and North Hertfordshire National Health Service Trust and West Hertfordshire NHS Trust are shown in the table.
	
		
			  East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust West Hertfordshire NHS Trust 
		
		
			 2001–02 72 77 
			 2002–03 86 40 
			 2003–04 56 45 
			 2004–05 50 53

MRI Scans

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps she is taking to reduce waiting times for routine MRI scans;
	(2)  what representations she has received on waiting times for routine MRI scans;
	(3)  what assessment she has made of the effects of delayed MRI scans.

Liam Byrne: To address concerns expressed from various sources about waits for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, we have introduced a target that, by 2008, no patient will have to wait more than 18 weeks from referral to start of hospital treatment. This will include any diagnostics tests or procedures leading up to the start of treatment. To support this, in addition to investing in additional capacity in the national health service, 40,000 additional MRI scans per annum have been procured from the independent sector through the use of state-of-the-art mobile scanning units. We are also in the process of procuring a further £200 million worth of diagnostic capacity from the independent sector, as announced by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, in September 2004.
	As part of their local delivery plans, strategic health authorities (SHAs) have been asked to produce trajectories showing planned reductions in maximum waiting times for such tests. New data systems will allow assessment of performance against the SHAs' trajectories.

MRSA

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list all known strains of MRSA; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The total number of strains is not known, but the Health Protection Agency receives around 7,000 methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains a year for typing on a voluntary basis to assist in the investigation of serious disease and outbreak investigation and control. Most hospital outbreaks in the United Kingdom are due to epidemic strains of MRSA, which can readily spread from person to person and affect more than one ward in more than two hospitals. A total of 17 epidemic strains have been identified in the United Kingdom to date and two strains, EMRSA 15 and EMRSA 16, predominate.

NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors)

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to amend the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989 to include HIV in those conditions exempted from charging.

Jane Kennedy: The NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989, as amended, already state that diagnostic testing for HIV and any associated counselling is free of charge to all irrespective of their residency status. Overseas visitors not eligible for free hospital treatment are required to pay the full costs of any HIV treatment beyond the initial test and counselling. There are no plans at present to amend the regulations to change this.

NHS Patients (Overseas Treatment)

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients have been treated in hospitals overseas in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Health, (Ms Winterton) gave to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton) on 29 June 2005, Official Report, column 1612W.

NHS Staff (Assault)

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) doctors, (b) nurses and (c) other NHS staff have been the victims of offences of violence suffered in the course of their employment in each of the last 20 years.

Jane Kennedy: Information on assaults against national health staff by occupational grouping has not been collated centrally.
	In April 2003, the NHS Security Management Service was created and assumed responsibility for the issue of tackling violence against NHS staff. In November 2003, a new national reporting system for physical assaults against NHS staff was introduced. Information concerning physical assaults against NHS staff is expected to be available from summer 2005.

Patients Forums

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total budget for supporting patients' forums is for the current financial year; and what the total budget for supporting community health councils was for the last financial year of their existence.

Rosie Winterton: The total budget for supporting patients' forums for the current financial year is £25.9 million, comprising of £19.8 million for direct programme expenditure for forums, plus £6.1 million for regional support, as provided through the regional centres.
	The total budget for supporting community health councils (CHCs) from 1 April to 1 December 2003, when CHCs were abolished, was £13.98 million.

West Hertfordshire NHS Trust (Budget)

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice has been given by her Department to the West Hertfordshire NHS Trust concerning measures to alleviate its budgetary deficit; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: National health service organisations are expected to plan for and achieve financial balance each and every year. Any deficits of NHS trusts need to be matched by underspends by other NHS bodies each year. In the next year, NHS trusts which overspent should make a surplus in order to ensure that other bodies can utilise the underspends from the previous year.
	It is the responsibility of strategic health authorities (SHAs) to deliver both overall financial balance for their local health communities and to ensure each and every body achieves financial balance. However, there is a degree of flexibility in how this is managed at a local level. In circumstances where a surplus cannot be generated in the following year, SHAs can agree a recovery plan which phases the recovery of deficits over a number of years. This would require other NHS organisations within the health economy to underspend over the same period. Clearly, any such arrangements would have to be subject to the agreement of local providers, commissioners and the managing SHA.
	West Hertfordshire Hospital NHS Trust is working with primary care trusts to agree a recovery plan to ensure that it delivers national targets, meets the national standards for high quality health care and meets its statutory duties. Decisions on how this is best delivered within the West Hertfordshire health and social care system is a local decision and thus Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA is working with the local NHS to support them in this process and ensure that there is the management capacity to produce and deliver the recovery plan.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

English Wine

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will ensure that English wine is made available at dinners, receptions and parties she hosts at which hospitality involving wine is appropriate (a) during the EU presidency and (b) generally; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: The choice of wines at receptions and other occasions—where it is appropriate for wine to be served—is primarily an operational matter for the chosen supplier of catering services. My officials liaise with the organisers of such events and encourage the serving of British wines, wherever that would also ensure appropriate value for money.

Olympics 2012

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what financial estimate has been made of the total economic benefit to the UK of hosting the 2012 Olympics.

David Lammy: holding answer 4 July 2005
	We expect a London Olympics to deliver significant economic benefits. The Games will attract investment, offer UK companies the opportunity to compete for billions of pounds worth of contracts, and provide a welcome boost to the UK tourism industry.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Car Servicing and Repair

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what recent surveys have been carried out by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies into car servicing and repair; and what the findings were of those surveys;
	(2)  what discussions the Office of Fair Trading has had with the Retail Motor Industry Federation concerning standards of servicing and repair for the car industry;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the number of garages servicing cars in England and Wales; what assessment he has made of the quality of servicing and repair work done by such garages; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what recent estimate he has made of the number of cars serviced in a year in England; how many cars were examined in the recent survey into car servicing and repair conducted by the Trading Standards Institute for his Department; and what proportion of the total this represents.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The most recent survey carried out by my Department (Car Servicing and Repair: Mystery Shopping Research—available at www.dti.gov.uk) was published in September 2002. The OFT published their Report (Car Servicing and Repairs—available at www.oft.gov.uk) in August 2000. This pulled together survey results from a number of sources. The findings of the surveys detailed in the OFT report were echoed substantially in the DTI survey. The findings are summarised as follows:
	Five per cent. of garages were rated very good, indicating they had carried out a thorough service, according to the manufacturer's service schedule; about half were rated either poor or very poor. There was evidence that women were subject to greater exposure to detrimental practices: overall 40 per cent.. of garages missed one or more items on the service schedule, this rose to 51 per cent.. if the customer was female (33 per cent.. if male). Performance was generally poor on providing accurate information, for example proper quotes for servicing. 61 per cent.. missed at least one of the faults found by the project's inspectors, which should have been picked up in service. 71 per cent. did not show customers replaced parts. Exposure to detriment seemed endemic and there was no significant difference in ratings between types of garage: 53 per cent.. of independent garages and 50 per cent. of franchise dealers were rated either poor or very poor. Only 6 per cent. of independents and 4 per cent. of dealers achieved a very good rating and there was no significant difference between members of trade associations and non-members. Fast-fit" centres faired a little better with 28 per cent. rated poor or very poor for overall quality of work; however, only 3 per cent.. carried out a thorough check and rectified both simple introduced faults.
	Until September last year, when they withdrew their application, the Retail Motor Industry Federation was pursuing OFT approval for its code of practice. Since that time I understand that the Federation and the OFT have met several times to discuss the possibility of applying for approval for a revised code scheme.
	The Retail Motor Industry Federation estimate that there are some 26,000 garages servicing cars in England and Wales. I have no doubt that there are very many garages in England and Wales which provide, or are capable of providing, very good quality servicing and repair work.
	However, random mystery shopping research carried out over recent years by trading standards officers, Which? and the Department has produced results that show consistently that a high proportion of garages from across the industry does not provide consumers with the standard of service delivery to which I believe they are entitled. Regrettably, the industry has failed to produce evidence of a similar quality which shows otherwise.
	The Retail Motor Industry Federation estimate that there are some 24 million cars serviced each year in the UK. The recent survey carried out by the Trading Standards Institute was not carried out on behalf of the Department. The Trading Standards Institute reported that they examined 88 cars in the course of their survey. This is clearly a very low proportion of the annual total of services. However, the poor results for the industry from that survey are entirely consistent with similar poor results in the similar surveys referenced above. Regrettably, there appears to be no sign of improvement in customer service delivery in this sector over the period since the OFT Report in 2000.

Coal Reserves (South Wales)

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the size of the remaining coal reserves in South Wales; and what assessment he has made of the economic viability of their extraction.

Malcolm Wicks: In 2002, the Department commissioned a study into coal reserves at existing deep mines in the UK. This was carried out by consultant mining engineers on behalf of the Department.
	It concluded that as at December 2002 the three remaining deep mines had 3.65 million tonnes of reserves, which could be extracted under then current economic conditions, and a further 11.50 million tonnes of potential economic interest which had not been fully investigated or evaluated, and which would require major access development. Further details can be found at: www.dti.gov.uk/energy/coal/mine_reviews/remaining_reserves.shtml.
	An earlier study, Prospects for coal production in England, Scotland and Wales", published in 1999, also identified 20–25 million tonnes of recoverable coal at the Margam prospect.
	Total deep mine production in South Wales since 2002 has been approximately 1.25 million tonnes.

Colitis/Crohn's Disease

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding has been provided for research into (a) ulcerative colitis and (b) Crohn's disease by the Medical Research Council.

Malcolm Wicks: The Medical Research Council (MRC) spent £1.6 million in 2003–04 on research relevant to inflammatory bowel diseases, which include both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
	It is for individual Research Councils to determine the research they wish to fund. Research excellence and importance to health are the primary considerations in MRC's funding decisions. Research proposals received by MRC undergo full peer review and assessment by one of the MRC's Research Boards.

Colliery Spoil Heaps

Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many fires have occurred on former colliery spoil heaps since 1980, broken down by (a) former National Coal Board and (b) private tips.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 27 June 2005
	Given the varied ownership of both former National Coal Board/British Coal Corporation and private colliery tips, no such information is centrally available.

Colliery Spoil Heaps

Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who is responsible for monitoring the condition of (a) former National Coal Board and (b) private colliery spoil heap.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 27 June 2005
	In respect of any disused colliery tip, the primary responsibility for ensuring safety rests with the tip owner, although local authorities have certain powers to act where there may be a threat to public safety. Any active or closed tip continues to be the responsibility of the mine owner. The enforcement authority in respect of such tips is the Mines Inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive.

Corporate Social Responsibility

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce guidelines on corporate social responsibility for business similar to the guidelines introduced recently by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on business impact on the environment; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Michael: I have no plans to introduce guidelines on corporate social responsibility (CSR) for business. CSR covers the social, environmental and economic impacts of business activities and a range of standards and guidelines already exist. DEFRA's consultation on revised guidelines for environmental reporting is part of the Government's approach of encouraging good practice. The Department was consulted on the guidelines and I added my support to the launch.

Exports

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it would require primary legislation to privatise the authority for issuing export licences.

Malcolm Wicks: No decisions have been taken on the XNP Services Review. If, we decided to outsource some, or all, of our export control services, we do not anticipate the need for any primary legislation.

Exports

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his Department's strategy is for helping UK exporters to penetrate new markets in (a) India and (b) China.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 4 July 2005
	Government have a well-defined strategy to help UK business succeed in China and India. Joint statements have been made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and his counterparts in India and China establishing a framework for strategic partnership agreements aimed at enhancing our bilateral relations in a number of key areas, including trade and investment. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry sits on the Joint Economic Trade Forum for China (JETC) and Joint Economic Trade Committee for India (JETCO), which are pivotal in bringing business issues to the attention of our relevant Ministries. Among other things, they explore the scope for co-operation across a number of key sectors, including energy and ICT. The Chancellor recently announced that the Asia Task Force will build on this work by identifying generic problems that British companies face in these markets. Ensuring that barriers are tackled where possible, and helping business overcome those that remain. Sector programmes have been developed in collaboration with industry, the Regional Development Agencies and devolved Administrations. These have been fed into UKTI's Business Plans for both China and India. They aim to develop our individual sector and wider market shares through a range of proactive activities and initiatives. We support a range of business to business led initiatives and support packages through our key delivery partners. In China these are the China British Business Council, and in India the Indo-British Partnership. In addition, UKTI directly supports numerous trade missions, seminars and trade show events to assist companies in penetrating these markets for the first time. For example, currently over 100 UKTI supported missions, seminars and trade show events are scheduled in China for 2005–06—a 25 per cent.. increase on the 2004–05 programme.

Gas Reserves

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how many days' supply of (a) long range, (b) medium range and (c) short range strategic gas reserves there is; and how this figure is calculated;
	(2)  what the minimum (a) long range, (b) medium range and (c) short range strategic gas reserves available during (i) February and (ii) March were, expressed as (A) a percentage of total potential storage of that type and (B) the number of days' supply at peak demand.

Malcolm Wicks: While there are no specifically defined strategic gas reserves" in the UK, there are levels of storage stocks known as Safety Monitors. These are determined as the minimum storage requirements to protect loads that can not be isolated from the network and also to support the process of isolating large loads from the network. The resultant storage stocks or monitors are designed to ensure that sufficient gas is held in storage to underpin the safe operation of the gas transportation system under severe conditions. There are separate safety monitors for each storage facility type (long, medium and short duration storage) each determined by National Grid Transco (NGT) to meet its Network Code requirements and under the terms of its Safety Case. Total shipper gas stocks should not fall below the relevant monitor level (which declines as the winter progresses). NGT is required to take action (which may include use of emergency procedures) in order to prevent a breach of these monitors. These monitors are calculated from:
	(a) an assessment of the level of supply availability (beach supplies, Interconnector imports and storage) against severe winter demands of those loads that can not be isolated from the network, for example domestic loads and priority customers (ie hospitals)
	(b) to provide network support while the larger loads where physically isolated.
	For next winter NGT's current assessment of the storage monitors are.
	
		
			 Storage type Assumed storage capacity (GWh) Safety Monitor requirement Safety Monitor requirement (percentage) Days supply (at peak deliverability) 
		
		
			 Long duration storage (Rough) 34,126 6,059 17.8 13.3 
			 Medium duration storage (MRS) 7,322 954 13.0 3.2 
			 Short duration storage (LNG) 1,817 988 54.4 1.9 
			 Total 44,051 8,001 18.2  
		
	
	According to the latest data, as of 29 June 2005, the Rough Storage Facility (long-range) is just over 70 per cent.. full. This is around 53 days deliverability at maximum withdrawal rates. Medium and short (LNG) duration storage is estimated to be around 60 per cent. and 70 per cent. full respectively. Transco publish updates on the levels of stocks in storage on their website: http://www.transco.co.uk/services/summops/storage.htm.
	Statistics for February and March, as provided by NGT, are:
	
		
			 Storage type Assumed storage capacity (GWh) Actual storage stock levels (GWh) Percentage of assumed storage capacity Days supply (at peak deliverability) 
		
		
			 February 
			 Long duration storage (Rough) 34,126 11,973 35 26.3 
			 Medium duration storage (MRS) 4,962 1,654 33 6.6 
			 Short duration storage (LNG) 1,838 1,264 69 1.8 
			 Total 40,926 14,891 36  
			  
			 March 
			 Long duration storage (Rough) 34,126 8,991 26 19.8 
			 Medium duration storage (MRS) 4,962 1,878 38 7.5 
			 Short duration storage (LNG) 1,838 938 52 1.3 
			 Total 40,926 11,807 29

Mines Rescue Services

Alan Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what (a) financial support and (b) technical assistance his Department has given to Mines Rescue Services Ltd. in respect of (i) overseas trade missions and promotions and (ii) other activities in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what Government fiscal support has been provided to Mines Rescue Services Ltd. in each of the last five years;
	(3)  what his Department's relationship with Mines Rescue Services Ltd. is;
	(4)  what contracts his Department has entered into with Mines Rescue Services Ltd. in each of the last five years.

Malcolm Wicks: Mines Rescue Services Ltd. is a private sector company with which the Department has no direct relationship, contractual or otherwise.
	The Department has provided no financial support or technical assistance to the company in respect of trade missions or promotions. However, as part of a package of measures established in 2003 to support the UK coal mining industry, the Department agreed to use best endeavours to identify and make available funding to Mines Rescue Services Ltd. (in its role as the provider of the statutory Mines Rescue Scheme) in the three year period 2003–04 to 2005–06. In respect of that commitment, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State directed the Coal Authority, a DTI sponsored non-departmental public body, to pay £2.5million to Mines Rescue Services Ltd. in each of the years 2003–04 and 2004–05. This funding enabled Mines Rescue Services Ltd. to reimburse to UK deep-mine operators the production-related levy sums which the latter had paid to the company throughout that period.
	As entirely separate arrangements, the Coal Authority has, over the period since its establishment in 1994, held a number of contracts with Mines Rescue Services Ltd. variously for the provision of training services, and services in respect of mines in the Authority's ownership. In April 2004 the Coal Authority let a contract to Mines Rescue Services Ltd. for the provision of an emergency response service to attend incidents such as ground collapses throughout the coalfields.

Official Receiver

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to whom the Official Receiver in his role as an Officer of the Court is accountable.

Gerry Sutcliffe: When acting as an officer of the court in the conduct of insolvency proceedings, the official receiver is subject to the control of the court in which the proceedings are based and is accountable to it.

Post Office, Bank and Retail Closures

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) local post offices, (b) local bank branches and (c) independent retail shops have closed in the last 10 years in (i) Birmingham, (ii) the West Midlands and (iii) England.

Barry Gardiner: Information on the number of local post offices that have closed is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. The Chief Executive has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.
	The number of local bank branch closures is not available.
	DTI figures based solely on VAT de-registrations in the retail sector for Birmingham local authority, West Midlands Government Office Region and England are shown in the table for 1994 to 2003. These data are not available for 2004.
	
		VAT de-registrations in the retail sector, 1994–2003
		
			  Birmingham West Midlands England 
		
		
			 1994 525 2,690 24,710 
			 1995 470 2,390 22,495 
			 1996 405 2,095 19,975 
			 1997 440 2,000 18,920 
			 1998 415 1,950 18,900 
			 1999 380 1,825 18,305 
			 2000 390 1,825 18,125 
			 2001 360 1,755 17,045 
			 2002 405 1,780 17,200 
			 2003 355 1,785 17,435 
		
	
	Source:
	Small Business Service analysis of ONS Inter Departmental Business Register data
	VAT de-registrations do not give a complete picture of business closures. Businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. For example, they might continue to trade but at a turnover level below the VAT threshold. Only 1.8 million out of four million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2003.

Renewable Energy

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are being taken to encourage the use of renewable energy in Lanark and Hamilton East constituency.

Malcolm Wicks: Recent trends in renewable energy development have been highly encouraging. More new capacity has been constructed in the last few years than in the previous decade, and a significant amount is currently in the pipeline. This covers a wide range of technologies including onshore and offshore wind, solar and biomass. This has been a result of the Government's Renewables Obligation Order 2002, which established a market-based mechanism for the support and development of this sector.
	The Government are also spending £500 million over the 2002–08 period to support emerging renewable energy technologies, such as wave and tidal.
	I understand that within Lanarkshire itself there are two existing hydropower stations as well as some small-scale renewables, with a number of onshore wind projects currently in the planning stage.

Renewable Energy

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the potential for energy generation from tidal power.

Alun Michael: holding answer 4 July 2005
	The Department has carried out a study called ATLAS that looks at the marine resource around the UK including tidal power. A copy of the study can be found at www.dti.gov.uk/renewables/renew_atlaspages.htm.

Renewable Energy

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are being taken to (a) promote and (b) encourage the use of renewable energy in Lancashire.

Malcolm Wicks: Recent trends in renewable energy development have been highly encouraging. More new capacity has been constructed in the last few years than in the previous decade, and a significant amount is currently in the pipeline. This covers a wide range of technologies including onshore and offshore wind, solar and biomass. This has been a result of the Government's Renewables Obligation Order 2002, which established a market-based mechanism for the support and development of this sector.
	The Government are also spending £500 million over the 2002–08 period to support emerging renewable energy technologies, such as wave and tidal.
	Whilst this investment has not translated into capacity within Lancashire itself, there are onshore wind farm developments in planning and I recently approved the Scout Moor wind farm development in May. Furthermore, Renewables Northwest, a joint venture between the Regional Development Agency and United Utilities, has been working with local businesses companies on identifying opportunities and promoting the use of renewable energy in the area.

Science Budget

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what real-terms percentage increase he expects in the science budget in each of the next three years.

Malcolm Wicks: Funding of the public science base, through DTI and DfES, is increasing at an average annual rate of 5.8 per cent in real terms over the Spending Review 2004 period. The Science Budget allocations through DTI for 2004–05 to 2007–08, including real-terms percentage increases, are set out in the table below:
	
		£ million
		
			 Science budget 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 
		
		
			 Total 2,734 3,087 3,235 3,452 
			 Annual increase — 353 148 217 
			 Percentage cash increase — 12.9 4.8 6.7 
			  
			 Total (real terms at 2004–05 prices) 2,734 3,011 3,078 3,203 
			 Annual increase — 277 67 125 
			 Percentage real increase — 10.1 2.2 4.1

State Aid

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what current level of state aid has been authorised by the European Commission for each country.

Ian Pearson: There is no ceiling of aid but each member state is responsible for ensuring that the rules set out in the state aid frameworks are respected.
	The Commission's State Aid Scoreboard reports on the aid given in eachmember state and can be found athttp://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/state_aid/scoreboard.

Textile Imports

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effect of imports from textile companies from China on the future of the textile industry in England.

Alun Michael: No specific assessment has been made of the effect of textile companies in China on the textile industry in this country but the likely impact of the ending of the Multi-Fibre Arrangement has been known for 10 years with a four stage phase out of quotas agreed as part of the GATT Uruguay Round. The UK cannot compete on low wages and the focus of UK manufacturing, including textiles, depends on raising investment, and applying science and innovation, best practice and skills to create better and more competitive products.
	We are working in partnership with industry, trade unions, regional development agencies, and other stakeholders to deliver the Government's Manufacturing Strategy launched in May 2002, and reviewed in 2004. It sets out the actions needed to create a high value, high skill manufacturing sector capable of introducing new products and processes into our economy and creating new markets to deliver a boost to our prosperity.

Work-related Stress

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his Department in each of the last three years; how much compensation was paid to employees in each year; how many work days were lost due to work-related stress in each year; at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress; at what cost; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: Data on absences relating to work-related stress is not collected separately in my Department. However, our counselling service provide detailed monitoring of the cases they deal with and since September 2003 25 staff have approached them for advice on work-related stress.
	We are committed to maintaining a safe working environment for staff and reducing absences caused by any sickness or injury. The Department provides advice, including medical advice, and counselling services and training events that help both managers and staff tackle stress. These services are provided to help deal with a wide range of concerns and it is not possible to disaggregate the cost of those helping to alleviate work-related stress.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on UK involvement in the creation of the new Infrastructure Consortium for Africa.

Hilary Benn: DFID convened a meeting in London on 5 May to discuss the creation of an Infrastructure Consortium for Africa. Senior level representatives attended from the G8, the African Union, The New Partnership for Africa's Development, the African Development Bank, The Economic Community for West African States, the World Bank, and the European Commission.
	They recognised that infrastructure in Africa is key to accelerating growth, reducing poverty and promoting regional integration, and agreed the proposal for the establishment of an Infrastructure Consortium. DFID is working closely with other agencies on plans for a Consortium secretariat. Further details will be discussed at the inaugural meeting of the Consortium, with possible additional participants, to be held on 6 October 2005.

Asian Tsunami

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the (a) progress and (b) impact of his Department's aid to countries affected by the tsunami.

Gareth Thomas: Progress with the humanitarian relief effort following the Asian tsunami last December has gone well. A detailed breakdown of DFID's humanitarian relief spending can be obtained in the document entitled A breakdown of DFID's Immediate Relief Response to the Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami" which has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	The reconstruction phase of recovery is under way and progress is now being made, although it will take several years to complete. DFID has allocated £65 million to meet reconstruction needs. From this allocation I recently announced that £31 million has been committed to the Multi Donor Trust Fund in Indonesia, of which £6 million has so far been paid out. A further £5 million has been committed for technical assistance in Indonesia to help ensure timely, accountable and equitable provision of reconstruction assistance and rebuilding of livelihoods. A total of £2 million has been committed to Sri Lanka to help speed up implementation of reconstruction programmes and to ensure equitable distribution of assistance, and £3 million to India to provide technical assistance aimed at ensuring effective, transparent and equitable programming of tsunami reconstruction efforts. The remaining £24 million of the £65 million allocation for reconstruction has not yet been committed.
	To assess the impact of this assistance, DFID humanitarian advisers will be undertaking a series of monitoring missions to affected countries during the summer to evaluate the effectiveness of the support provided with UK Government funds. The fact that much of DFID's relief and recovery assistance is being channelled through traditional partner organisations, including NGOs, should further ensure the funds are spent effectively. The National Audit Office is also undertaking a tracking study of DFID's relief and reconstruction response.
	The impact of reconstruction spending will be assessed once the £65 million of allocated money is fully programmed and spending has commenced.

Asian Tsunami

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government is taking to assist non-governmental organisations, with particular reference to Oxfam, who have been charged customs duties to import four-wheel drive vehicles, necessary to carry supplies to victims of the December tsunami.

Gareth Thomas: DFID officials in Sri Lanka have been working closely with Oxfam to help them clarify the tax liability for vehicles imported to support their tsunami relief programmes. Oxfam subsequently discussed the issue with the Minister of Finance in Sri Lanka and I am pleased to say have received a refund of the duty paid.
	The Oxfam case is not unique. A number of other NGOs face similar demands. While we recognise the Government of Sri Lanka's wish to maintain the integrity of its tax system, and to maximise revenue, we are concerned that the current regulations are not clearly articulated to importers, and nor are they consistently applied. As a result there are delays in getting goods and materials to needy communities. DFID and the international community have been working with the Government of Sri Lanka and NGOs to improve this situation. During my visit to Sri Lanka in June I specifically raised the import tax issue with the Secretary to the Treasury and asked that he issue comprehensive guidance. DFID staff in Colombo will continue to monitor.

BBC Journalists

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding has been awarded to BBC journalists through the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association Department for International Development travel bursary fund in each year since 2000.

Gareth Thomas: Since 2000, BBC journalists have been awarded a total of £45,584 in funding through the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association/DFID travel bursary scheme.
	
		£
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 2000 (23)— 
			 2001 (23)— 
			 2002 29,260 
			 2003 10,000 
			 2004 6,324 
		
	
	(23) No funding.

Iraq

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department takes to employ Iraqis in development work in that country.

Hilary Benn: DIFD recognises the importance of the involvement of Iraqi individuals, private sector companies and civil society organisations in the reconstruction of their country. We employ Iraqi people wherever appropriate, and stress to other donors and contractors the importance of employing Iraqis on their reconstruction work.
	DFID's offices in Baghdad and Basra employ local staff to help manage our programmes, and Iraqi advisers assist in the implementation our Political Participation
	and Civil Society Funds. Through these funds, DFID helps to finance the work of Iraqi civil society organisations.
	DFID's reconstruction programme in southern Iraq also employs Iraqi nationals. For example the Emergency Infrastructure Programme employed 3,000 workers on water supply projects in Basra. DFID consultants have established a database of southern Iraqi companies and experts, which is used by DFID and other donors to identify local capacity to undertake development work. DFID's new £40 million infrastructure project will offer sub-contracting opportunities for Iraqi engineers and construction workers. A DFID-funded employment programme has contracted 1.6 million days for work on local improvement projects.
	United Nations agencies working in Iraq, to which DFID is contributing financially, largely employ Iraqi individuals, companies and non-governmental organisations to implement their reconstruction projects.

Iraq

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in the reconstruction of (a) schools and (b) hospitals in Iraq.

Hilary Benn: A number of donors are assisting the Iraqi Ministry of Education in school reconstruction projects in Iraq and considerable progress has been made. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is undertaking a countrywide programme which has so far rehabilitated over 2,510 schools. United Nations agencies are also carrying out school rehabilitation projects in Baghdad and southern Iraq. The World Bank has agreed an emergency school construction and rehabilitation project to finance the rehabilitation of about 140 schools and the construction of new buildings for about 110 schools which currently have unsafe or overcrowded facilities. The UN and World Bank projects are being financed through the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq, to which DFID has contributed £70 million. The UN, the World Bank, and USAID are also assisting with the provision of essential educational supplies, including textbooks and furniture.
	The Iraqi Ministry of Health is leading on the rehabilitation of health services in Iraq, working closely with international agencies including the World Health Organisation (WHO). The Ministry of Health reports that more than 75 hospitals and nearly all the primary care clinics which were damaged or looted during and after the 2003 conflict have been rehabilitated. Further work to construct and rehabilitate hospitals in Iraq is under way, and health services are gradually improving. More than $1 billion has been pledged by donors in support to the health sector. United States agencies are renovating 20 hospitals and constructing a new Paediatric Hospital in Basra, and the Japanese Government is funding the rehabilitation of 11 general hospitals. The World Bank has agreed a $25 million emergency health and rehabilitation project to finance the rehabilitation of emergency services in 12 hospitals. This is being funded from the International reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq, managed jointly by the UN and World Bank, to which DFID has contributed £70 million.
	Despite this considerable investment, it will still take several years for Iraq's education and health sectors to recover fully from the underinvestment and poor management of Saddam Hussein's regime, and approach the standards of service expected in developed countries.

Iraq

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the multilateral organisations providing aid and assistance to Iraq to which the UK Government have contributed since January; and how much was contributed to each organisation.

Hilary Benn: Since January 2005, the Government have contributed £358,573 to the United Nations Environment Programme and £10,000,000 to the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement for assistance in Iraq.

Iraq

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the contracts won by UK firms since January for reconstruction work in Iraq, broken down by value.

Hilary Benn: DFID-funded contracts for reconstruction in Iraq which have been won by UK firms since January 2005 are as follows:
	
		£
		
			 Contract title and name of company Current contract value 
		
		
			 World Bank Co-ordination Adviser (Enterplan Ltd.) 142,938 
			 Emergency Public Administration Programme (Adam Smith International Ltd.) 677,175 
			 Interim Iraq Security Sector Support—Ministry of the Interior (The Crown Agents for Overseas Government and Administrations Ltd.) 2,260,800 
			 Deputy Security Manager, Baghdad (The Crown Agents for Overseas Government and Administrations Ltd.) 107,440 
			 Southern Iraq Employment and Services Programme (MOTT Macdonald Ltd.) 529,544 
			 Procurement of Accommodation Units for DFID projects (The Crown Agents for Overseas Government and Administrations Ltd.) 99,535 
			 Emergency Response Fund (PA Infrastructure and Development Services (UK) Ltd.) 427,548 
			 Iraq Infrastructure Services Programme—Procurement Specialist (The Crown Agents for Overseas Government and Administrations Ltd.) 182,132 
			 Iraq Infrastructure Services Programme (PA Infrastructure and Development Services (UK) Ltd.) 2,200,380 
			 Iraq Infrastructure Services Programme (Enterplan Ltd.) 3,251,010 
			 Iraq Infrastructure Services Programme Preparation (Enterplan Ltd.) 151,032 
			 Public Financial Management Reform (Adam Smith International Ltd.) 1,038,568 
			 Project Manager—Installation of Accommodation Units (The Crown Agents for Overseas Government and Administrations Ltd.) 30,880 
			 Iraq Infrastructure Services Programme—Senior Adviser to Ministry of Electricity (The Crown Agents for Overseas Government and Administrations Ltd.) 301,990 
			 Total 11,400,972 
		
	
	Many UK firms have won contracts for reconstruction work in Iraq which have not been funded by the UK Government. British companies are not required to report details to the Government of such work.

Middle East

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the joint Israeli-Palestinian development projects that have received UK Government funding in the past five years.

Kim Howells: I have been asked to reply.
	Joint Israel-Palestinian development projects that have received UK Government funding since 2000 are:
	Financial year 2003–04: Parents circle project (a series of peace/reconciliation lectures)
	Financial year 2005–06: Peres Peace Centre project to train Palestinian school teachers
	Financial year 2005–06 (funded until 2008): Management of water resources to reduce pollution risks (joint Israel/Palestinian/Jordanian project)
	We have also supported projects with each individual party to promote development and Peace Process objectives.

Sierra Leone

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the progress of debt relief to Sierra Leone.

Hilary Benn: Sierra Leone qualifies for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. In March 2002 Sierra Leone reached HIPC Decision Point, following production of an interim Poverty Reduction Strategy, which made it eligible for debt relief equivalent to US$600 million in net present value terms, or 80 per cent. of the country's outstanding (foreign) external debt as at the end of 2000.
	Under the HIPC initiative, 10 out of 11 Paris club creditors (official bilateral creditors) agreed to provide debt relief to Sierra Leone. This was on Naples terms (equivalent to 65 per cent. debt cancellation/debt stock reduction), although France has agreed to extend relief on Cologne terms (equivalent to 90 per cent. debt cancellation/debt stock reduction). Comparable relief has been provided by non-official commercial creditors.
	Additionally, the UK has gone beyond the requirements of the HIPC initiative and has written off 100 per cent. of all bilateral debts owed to it by HIPC countries. In the case of Sierra Leone, this means that debt repayments were suspended at HIPC Decision Point; the stock of debt will be written off at HIPC Completion Point.
	The recent agreement by G8 Finance Ministers proposes a further significant reduction in debt payments for HIPC countries. It provides for all HIPC countries to have their International Monetary Fund, World Bank and African Development Fund debts written off after they reach HIPC Completion Point. Decisions on Completion Point are made following a period of implementation of a full Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS). Sierra Leone's PRS was agreed earlier this year. It is likely that Completion Point will be reached in 2006. The agreement between G8 Finance Ministers will then apply to Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on aid to Sierra Leone.

Hilary Benn: The UK is the largest bilateral donor to Sierra Leone. Our programme of support is set out in a 10-year Agreement with the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL), signed in November 2002, under which we have committed up to £120 million over its first three years. The main areas of our programme are security sector reform; governance reform including public administration, decentralisation and public financial management; diamond sector reform; anti corruption measures; private sector development and budgetary support.
	A particular feature of the Agreement is the inclusion of performance benchmarks, agreed annually between the UK Government and the GoSL, which commit the GoSL to reforms in the areas of focus referred to, in exchange for our support. Quarterly reviews of progress against the performance benchmarks are held with the Sierra Leone authorities.
	Earlier this year, the GoSL and the donor community agreed a first full Poverty Reduction Strategy. This will guide future allocation of domestic resources and is the strategy against which donors, including the UK, will re-assess their programmes. The Poverty Reduction Strategy will be discussed between the GoSL and the international community at a Consultative Group meeting to be held later this year.

Sub-Saharan Africa

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will rank EU member states by size of aid to (a) sub-Saharan Africa and (b) the 15 poorest sub-Saharan countries, expressed in terms of per head of population of donor country.

Gareth Thomas: The table shows that in 2003 (the latest date for which data are available) France, Germany and the UK were the three largest EU donors to sub-Saharan Africa in terms of total official development assistance (ODA). However Luxembourg, Belgium and Denmark gave the greatest amounts of ODA per head of their populations. The UK was the eighth largest donor in the EU on this measure, with £14.95 spent on ODA to sub-Saharan Africa for each person in the UK.
	Considering only the 15 poorest countries in sub-Saharan Africa (based on GNI per capita) 1 , the largest EU donors in terms of ODA per capita of the donor country were Belgium, Sweden and Luxembourg. The UK ranked ninth.
	1 The 15 poorest countries were: Sierra Leone, Malawi, Tanzania, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Ethiopia, Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Niger, Zambia, Nigeria, Mali, Eritrea and Kenya. (nb—no data available for Zimbabwe for 2003.)
	
		2003
		
			  Total net ODA to sub-Saharan Africa Total net ODA to poorest 15 sub-Saharan African countries 
			  Total Per head of population Total Per head of population 
			 EU member state £ million Rank £ sterling Rank £ million £ sterling Rank 
		
		
			 Austria 41.9 13 5.20 13 18.46 2.29 12 
			 Belgium 627.6 4 60.52 2 529.34 51.05 1 
			 Denmark 262.4 8 48.60 3 95.11 17.61 5 
			 Finland 62.8 12 12.05 10 24.42 4.69 11 
			 France 1,821.8 1 30.48 7 1,045.59 17.49 6 
			 Germany 1,160.2 2 14.06 9 658.37 7.98 8 
			 Greece 1.9 15 0.17 15 0.90 0.08 15 
			 Ireland 151.0 9 37.76 5 64.23 16.06 7 
			 Italy 424.2 6 7.38 11 360.32 6.27 10 
			 Luxembourg 34.0 14 75.62 1 8.97 19.92 3 
			 Netherlands 597.5 5 36.77 6 322.54 19.85 4 
			 Portugal 69.1 11 6.69 12 10.25 0.99 13 
			 Spain 96.7 10 2.26 14 13.23 0.31 14 
			 Sweden 375.1 7 41.77 4 217.47 24.22 2 
			 United Kingdom 885.3 3 14.95 8 454.70 7.68 9 
			 
			 EU members, total 6611.5 — 17.32 — 3,823.91 10.02 —

Zimbabwe

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his assessment is of the consequences of famine for the Zimbabwean economy.

Hilary Benn: The large food production shortfall this year will result in even faster contraction of the economy in 2005, as well as increased pressure on very limited foreign exchange to pay for food imports.
	High food prices and, in some places, lack of food supplies is likely to lead to widespread hunger but is unlikely to result in a famine. Recent assessments by organisations working at community level suggest that malnutrition is not presently high by emergency standards, but could become worse as many more people run out of food in coming months. By far the highest cause of death in Zimbabwe is HIV/AIDS, which kills more than 3,200 people per week.
	Food shortages and HIV/AIDS will sadly affect the medium and longer-term capacity for economic growth in Zimbabwe in a range of ways. These include higher levels of school drop-outs, lack of funds to purchase inputs for the next planting season, nutritional impact on children affecting their future capacity to be productive, and women being forced into trading sex for food with the risk of further HIV transmission. DFID will continue to work with vulnerable groups to mitigate these negative consequences.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces Personnel

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the manpower levels of the (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Air Force are; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: On 1 May 2005, the trained strength of the Regular Naval Service was 35,280. This represents a deficit of 2,770. In a briefing on the restructuring of the armed forces on 13 May this year, it was announced that RN trained requirement will reduce by some 1,500 to 36,000 by 2008.
	On 1 May 2005, the trained strength of the Regular RAF was 48,760. This represented a surplus of 360 against the requirement. As part of the restructuring of the armed forces announced in this House on 21 July last year, it is planned to reduce RAF trained manpower to around 41,000 by April 2008.
	UK regular forces includes Nursing Services and excludes Full Time Reserve Service personnel, mobilised reservists and Naval Activated reservists.

Combat Vehicles (Manufacturing Capabilities)

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what capabilities the UK has to manufacture (a) manned and (b) unmanned vehicles with stealth characteristics.

Adam Ingram: The UK aerospace industry has a developing capability to incorporate stealthy techniques into the development and manufacture of manned and unmanned air vehicles. For security reasons we would not wish to comment on the detail of these techniques.

Iraq

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the security situation in Iraq.

John Reid: Insurgents continue in their efforts to destabilise progress in Iraq. Although attacks continue, the numbers of these attacks have declined since the elections in January, with the majority confined to four out of 18 provinces in Iraq. The Iraqi Security Forces are conducting, both independently and with coalition support, an increasing number of counter-insurgency operations.

Marine Noise Pollution

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what recent representations he has received on the effects of marine noise pollution in UK waters generated by the activities of UK defence forces, with particular reference to Sonar 2087, on (a) marine mammals and (b) other marine life; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects of marine noise pollution in UK waters generated by the activities of UK defence forces on (i) marine mammals and (ii) other marine life, with particular reference to Sonar 2087; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: The Ministry of Defence has an ongoing dialogue with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), members of the public and the media concerning Sonar 2087 and the potential for its effect on the environment. On 29 June 2005, the leader of the team responsible for the development of the Sonar 2087 system met with representatives of various NGOs in order to listen to and address their concerns.
	As stated in the answer given by my predecessor to the hon. Member on 1 September 2004, Official Report, column 724W, the Ministry of Defence has a sustained programme of research into the effects of active sonar generally. This work is used to inform Environmental Impact Assessments on marine environments in which sonar might be used by the Royal Navy, rather than in the specific context of United Kingdom territorial waters. The environmental assessment reports relating to the Sonar 2087 sea trials conducted in 2002 and 2004 are now available for release and copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

Meteorological Office

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) estimated cost and (b) outturn cost of building and furnishing the Meteorological Office's Headquarters in Exeter was.

Don Touhig: The baseline cost of the Meteorological Office's relocation project (including the move from Bracknell and the relocation of staff) was set at £98.3 million. The out turn cost was £106.2 million, which included an increase of £6.6 million to cover necessary additions to the original specification, and £1.3 million primarily related to staff relocation costs caused by the very high percentage of staff choosing to relocate.

Meteorological Office

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Meteorological Office has (a) sought and (b) received in (i) loans and (ii) one-off financial support from his Department in each of the last 10 years.

Don Touhig: The Meteorological Office became a Trading Fund in 1996. Initial loans provided from the Ministry of Defence to enable the Met Office to vest totalled £37.7 million. This loan was repaid by 2001. No further loans or financial support have been sought by the Met Office since.

Meteorological Office

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much revenue was generated from customers in the public and private sectors by (a) the weather centres in (i) Aberdeen, (ii) Belfast, (iii)Birmingham, (iv) Cardiff, (v) London and (vi)Manchester and (b) the Meteorological Office headquarters in Exeter in each year since 2000.

Don Touhig: The Meteorological Office civil centres are not stand alone business units. They are primarily forecasting production units drawing on, and contributing to, other parts of the Met Office in order to deliver outputs. It is not therefore possible to provide information on revenue generation by individual civil centres.

Meteorological Office

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money has been provided by the Government to fund the Meteorological Office's National Programme in each year since 2000.

Don Touhig: The Meteorological Office is a Trading Fund, and accordingly no voted funds are provided to it by the Government. The Met Office earns revenue by providing customers with products and services they require. The revenue earned from central Government Departments in support of National Programmes (comprising the National Met Programme, Public Weather Services, Climate Research and Defence Services) is as follows:
	
		
			 Financial Year £ million 
		
		
			 2004–05 118 
			 2003–04 113 
			 2002–03 109 
			 2001–02 107 
			 2000–01 104 
		
	
	Source:
	Met Office Annual Report and Accounts

TRANSPORT

A21

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the issuing of draft orders for the proposed upgrade of the A21.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency has not received any representations about the issuing of draft orders for the proposed A21 improvement schemes as none have yet been published. The priorities for the A21 improvement schemes are subject to advice by regional stakeholders.

EU Working Hours Restrictions

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has made to the EU on ensuring that the implementation of working hours restrictions in the transport sector is monitored in each EU member state.

Stephen Ladyman: We are aware that a number of member states have not yet implemented Directive 2002/15/EC on the organisation of the working time of persons performing mobile road transport activities. My Department has raised this with the Commission and understand that proceedings have been started against those member states.

HGV Lanes

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the merits of constructing heavy goods vehicles (HGV) crawler lanes along appropriate stretches of the M1 motorway coupled with restricting HGV's using lanes other than the crawler lane and the inside one as a means of reducing motorway congestion; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency currently have no plans to construct heavy good vehicle (HGV) crawler lanes on the M1 motorway. However, they are intending to run a trial on the M42 in the West Midlands between junctions 10 and 11 northbound, that will restrict HGVs over 7.5 tonnes from using the outer lane of this two lane stretch of the motorway. The results from the trial will determine whether this measure should be deployed more widely.
	The agency does have plans to construct crawler lanes at four locations elsewhere on the motorway network. These are at M27 junction 11 to 12, M5 junction 17 to 18A Northbound, M5 junction 19 to 20 southbound and M5 junction 19 to 20 northbound. However, at present there are no plans to restrict HGVs from using lanes other than the crawler lanes.

Large Vehicle Tests

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the effectiveness of the Large Goods Vehicle and Passenger Carrying Vehicle Hazard Perception Test; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: We have recently received a representation from an instructor questioning the Hazard Perception assessment which learner lorry and bus drivers must satisfy to a suitable standard as part of their driving test.
	The Hazard Perception Test was introduced in November 2002 for all categories of learner driver. It assesses competence at recognising hazards as they develop on the road. Research has identified this as a key road safety skill linked to accident liability. Acknowledging their greater responsibilities, the pass mark for lorry and bus drivers is set higher than that for car drivers.
	Hazard perception testing was introduced with the support of bodies representing the road freight and passenger transport industries, as well as road safety and driving instruction interests.

Light Rail

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2005, Official Report, column 1554W, if he will estimate the amount of public sector finance spent on construction of light rail schemes in (a) Manchester, (b) Liverpool, (c) Leeds and (d) Portsmouth.

Alistair Darling: Around £150 million of public sector finance funded Manchester Metrolink phase I. Around £160 million of public sector finance funded Manchester Metrolink phase II. Around £199 million of public sector finance has been spent on Manchester Metrolink Phase III. Of this, £42 million was used for advance works, and £38 million was used for land purchase.
	Around £36 million of public sector finance has been spent on Merseytram. Of this, around £16 million has been spent on utilities and construction work.
	Around £39 million of public sector finance has been spent on Leeds Supertram. Of this, around £5 million has been spent on construction costs with around a further £14 million on land and property purchase.
	Around £10 million of public sector finance has been spent on the South Hampshire Rapid Transit scheme. Of this, around £1.5 million spent on land purchase.

Motorcycle Parking (London)

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the Mayor of London on increasing the number of parking bays in London for motorcycles.

Karen Buck: The Mayor now has overall responsibility for traffic management in London. However, responsibility for parking in London generally rests with the relevant borough. It is a matter for individual boroughs to decide on the nature and scope of parking provision and control and to balance the needs of residents, emergency services, local business and those who work in and visit the area. Ministers have regular meetings with the Mayor at which a wide range of transport matters are discussed.

Out-of-town Shopping Centres

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact on traffic levels of the (a) expansion of out-of-town shopping centres and (b) reduction of local post offices, local bank branches and independent retail shops over the last 10 years.

Karen Buck: As set out in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning for Town Centres, published in 2005 it is for local planning authorities, when selecting appropriate sites for allocation, to have regard to whether a new site is or will be accessible and well served by a choice of means of transport, especially public transport, walking and cycling, as well as by car; and the level of impact on car use, traffic and congestion.
	My Department has made no assessment of the impact on traffic levels of the expansion of out-of-town shopping centres, reduction of local post offices, local bank branches and independent retail shops over the last 10 years. However, all applications for development are subject to the provisions set out in DTLR Circular 04/2001, Control of Development Affecting Trunk Roads and Agreements with Developers under Section 278 of the Highways Act 1980". Under these provisions the Highways Agency requires detailed assessments of the traffic impacts of planning applications, including applications for new retail developments, which potentially impact on the trunk road network. In addition, Planning Policy Guidance Note 13: Transport, published in 2001 requires that, where developments will have significant transport implications, transport assessments should be prepared and submitted alongside the relevant planning application so that planning authorities can better assess the application.

Press Officers

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many press officers the Department and its predecessors employed in each year since 1997; and what the cost was in each year.

Karen Buck: The average number of full-time equivalent press officers employed by DfT and their cost for the years 2002–03 to 2004–05 broken down between the central department and the agencies is:
	
		Press officers
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Transport (Central) 12.71 13.8 13.8 
			 Driving Standards Agency 2.0 2.0 2.0 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing  Agency 7.0 7.0 7.5 
			 Highways Agency 6.0 6.0 6.0 
			 Maritime and Coastguard  Agency 2.0 2.0 2.0 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services  Agency 1.0 1.0 2.0 
		
	
	
		£ million
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Transport (Central) (24)0.51 0.70 0.70 
			 Driving Standards Agency 0.04 0.06 0.06 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing  Agency 0.14 0.15 0.18 
			 Highways Agency 0.21 0.22 0.23 
			 Maritime and Coastguard  Agency 0.08 0.09 0.11 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services  Agency 0.02 0.02 0.04 
		
	
	(24)Covers the 10-month period from the creation of the department in late May 2002.
	Note:
	Agency figures are for the full year.
	Information for each of the financial years between 1997 and 2002, when transport policy formed part of the remit of the former Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions and Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, is not available in a comparable format.
	Detailed information on the numbers of permanent press officers employed in central departmental press offices, including the former Department of Transport (DoT) for the financial year 1996–97, was provided in a memorandum dated 16 June 1998 to the Select Committee on Public Administration and published in its report on the Government Information and Communication Service (HC 770) in July 1998 (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmpubadm/770/77002.htm).
	Staff numbers and costs for press officers in the Department's agencies in 1997–98 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Roads

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken by the Highways Agency to evaluate the environmental impacts of route improvements to the A21.

Stephen Ladyman: The environmental impact of all motorway and trunk road improvement schemes is evaluated and assessed as required under of the Highways (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1999 and in accordance with the Highways Agency's Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) Volume 5 Assessment and Preparation of Road Schemes", Volume 10 Environmental Design", and Volume 11 Environmental Assessment". Improvements to the A21 are subject to these procedures, and includes consultation with the statutory environmental bodies, whose comments and concerns are taken on board where possible.

Roads

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the effect of his recent announcement on road pricing on existing schemes in place on toll (a) roads, (b) bridges and (c) tunnels with particular reference to the planned extension of the M6 toll road to Manchester.

Stephen Ladyman: In line with its manifesto commitment, the Government are examining the potential of moving away from the current system of motoring taxation towards a national system of road pricing. The issue of how this would interact with tolling concessions would need careful consideration in any scheme design.

Roads

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he gives to the Highways Agency on assessing road improvement schemes associated with accident block spots.

Stephen Ladyman: All Highways Agency improvement schemes are assessed against the five criteria outlined in the Government's New Approach To Appraisal (NATA): safety, economy, environment, accessibility and integration.
	The safety and economic benefits of a scheme are calculated according to the methodology given in the Cost Benefit Analysis (COBA) manual (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges Vol. 13). This takes account of the latest data on accident rates, and their costs. The methodology estimates the reduction in number of personal injury accidents due to the proposed road improvement.
	The COBA manual is published by The Stationary Office. Advice regarding the application of NATA is included in Applying the New Multi-modal Approach to Appraisal to Highway Schemes" (known as The Bridging Document") published by the Department for Transport and available on their Transport Analysis Guidance website, WebTAG www.webtag.org.uk.

Safety Cameras

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many personal injury collisions, including collisions involving fatalities, occurred at the site of each fixed speed camera in the Worcester constituency in the year (a) before and (b) after installation of each.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department does not hold or record this information on a constituency basis. The information requested will be available from the West Mercia Safety Camera Partnership. They can be contacted via their website at www.speedaware.org.uk.

Seafarers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many UK citizens are employed as seafarers on UK registered ships, broken down by (a) officers and (b) crew.

Stephen Ladyman: We do not keep separate records of the numbers of UK seafarers by the flag state of the ship on which they are employed. The estimated numbers of UK merchant navy officer and ratings are as follows.
	
		
			  2004 
		
		
			 Officers 15,800 
			 Ratings 9,600 
			 Total 25,400 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Officer and ratings estimates comprise deck, engine, technical and hotel/catering grades. Cadets are excluded.
	2.Estimates for 2004 are taken from UK Seafarer Statistics", published by DfT.

Seafarers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many seafarer officers (a) have been trained and (b) are in training, since the introduction of the tonnage tax.

Stephen Ladyman: A tonnage tax company is required to recruit and train one officer trainee each year for every 15 officer posts in its fleet. The approved cumulative training commitment for each year that the scheme has operated is in the following table.
	
		
			  Approved CTC 
		
		
			 2000–01 70 
			 2001–02 365 
			 2002–03 762 
			 2003–04 1,094 
			 2004–05 (25)1,275 
		
	
	(25)with one return outstanding

Tonnage Tax Scheme

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the minimum requirements are for a company to take part in the tonnage tax scheme; what the mechanisms are for checking compliance; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: A company can take part in tonnage tax if:
	it is within the charge to corporation tax,
	it operates qualifying ships, and
	those ships are strategically and commercially managed in the United Kingdom.
	HM Revenue and Customs apply the same compliance standards to tonnage tax as they do to the rest of the tax regime.
	A unique feature of the UK's tonnage tax system is the minimum training obligation, which requires each tonnage tax company to recruit and train one officer trainee each year for every 15 officer posts in its fleet. Before electing to enter tonnage tax, each company or group must first obtain approval from the Department for Transport for a Core Training Commitment (CTC) which shows how they intend to meet the minimum training obligation. Achievement of the CTC is monitored from reports submitted to DfT every four months.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Support Agency

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when people paying 34 per cent. of their income to the Child Support Agency for the upkeep of two children will have their contributions reduced to the 20 per cent. stipulated under new Child Support Agency guidelines; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 20 June 2005
	A new Chief Executive of the Agency has recently taken up post. He will be reporting to Ministers over the summer on proposals to improve the agency's performance.
	Changes to the levels of contributions in old scheme cases as a result of conversion to the new scheme will only be made once we are sure both the system and business processes are robust.

Sign Language and Lip-speakers

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much financial support the Government have provided for (a) sign language interpreters and (b) lip-speakers in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: This information is not held centrally.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Departmental Antiques

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the non-furniture antiques classified by his Department as an asset.

Jack Straw: This information is not readily available without a disproportionate amount of data analysis.

European Union

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the projected (a) gross and (b) net UK contributions to the EU budget for each year are in the period 2006 to 2013 with (i) the UK abatement calculated on the existing formula and (ii) the UK abatement calculated according to the method proposed by the Luxembourg presidency during the European Council summit.

Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
	As the Prime Minister explained in his statement to the House on 20 June 2005, the final Luxembourg proposal on Own Resources tabled at the June 2005 European Council would have cost the UK an estimated €25 billion over the next Financial Perspective (2007–13). This would have been the effect on both the UK net contribution and gross contribution post abatement, in commitment terms at 2004 prices compared to the current Own Resources system. These estimates are based on Treasury calculations.

Iran

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of reports of ballot rigging in the Iranian election; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Senior members of the Iranian Government and election officials, as well as several of the candidates, have complained of widespread interference, including by the security forces. We have made clear our concern, which is widely shared in the EU and elsewhere. The EU has also expressed regret that a large majority of candidates, including many reformists and all the women, were excluded from the elections, making a genuine democratic choice difficult. We continue to urge the Iranian Government to allow its citizens to benefit from the full range of democratic freedoms and human rights.

Israel

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration his Department has given to providing support to the Hand in Hand Centre for Jewish and Arab Education in Israel.

Kim Howells: We are impressed by the proposed projects for expanding the impact of bilingual, multicultural Arab-Jewish education in Israel run by the Hand in Hand Centre for Jewish and Arab Education. We are currently considering providing support.

Middle East

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost of damage caused to projects funded by the European Union in Gaza and the West Bank as a result of actions by (a) the Israeli security services and (b) other groups active in the area.

Kim Howells: Volume 2 of the International Development Committee report on Development Assistance and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, published in February 2004, gives the estimated figure for physical damages inflicted by Israel Defence Force attacks to EU funded development projects" as just under £25 million. This covers the period May 2001 to February 2004. We are not aware of any estimates made since February 2004.
	We are not aware of any estimate being made for damage to EU funded projects caused by the actions of other groups in the area.

Middle East

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the contribution of joint Jewish-Arab educational projects to peace-making between Israeli and Palestinians.

Kim Howells: Any initiatives which encourage Israelis and Palestinians to work together as partners for peace, and encourage mutual respect and understanding, are welcome. We therefore welcome the contribution of joint Jewish-Arab educational projects to peace-making between Israelis and Palestinians.

Middle East

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the threat posed by Hezbollah to the relationship between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Kim Howells: Terrorist attacks by Hezbollah, and the Palestinian rejectionist groups it supports, risk disrupting relations between the Palestinian Authority and Israel and cause many innocent casualties. These groups must cease terrorist attacks forthwith.

Middle East

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest assessment is of the compliance with Security Council Resolution 1559 of (a) Hezbollah and (b) Syria.

Kim Howells: The UK supports full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1559, including the disarmament of Hezbollah. We acknowledge that this is a complex issue and one that must be a Lebanese-led process. We stand ready to support the new Lebanese Government with the implementation of UNSCR 1559.
	As required by UNSCR 1559, Syria has withdrawn its troops from Lebanon and we await the report of the UN Secretary-General's UN verification team to Lebanon to assess the presence of Syrian troops and intelligence personnel. The UK believes that Syria can play a more positive role in the full implementation of UNSCR 1559.

Middle East

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the threat posed by Hamas to the prospects for Abu Mazen fulfilling commitments on security, economic and political reform made at the London Meeting in March.

Kim Howells: Hamas's involvement in terrorism disrupts relations between the Palestinian Authority and Israel and causes many innocent casualties. Such actions undermine Palestinian President Abbas' authority and the Palestinian Authority's ability to meet its commitments on security, and economic and political reform made at the London meeting.
	The UK notes the commitment made by Hamas, and other Palestinian groups, to President Abbas in Cairo in March to adopt a conditional cease-fire until the end of 2005. The UK calls for Hamas to go further and renounce violence for good, and choose participatory politics as the only means of working towards a lasting peace in the Middle East.

Moldova

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to facilitate a British Council presence in Moldova.

Jack Straw: The British Council currently covers Moldova from its office in Romania, from where, among other things, it manages scholarship programmes for Moldavians, conducts English language testing and arranges arts events for Moldova in conjunction with the British embassy. In addition the Council has a library close to the Moldovan border which serves around 500 Moldovan students.
	If a British Council presence in Moldova became desirable, taking into account demand, resources and competing pressures, the Foreign and Commonwealth office would assist as appropriate.

Morocco

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will intercede in the cases of the Saharawi activists held in Moroccan jails.

Kim Howells: We are aware of recent reports regarding the arrest and subsequent detention of Saharawi activists following demonstrations in Western Sahara. In our capacity as EU President, the UK will discuss this issue with EU partners and agree appropriate action.

Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 22 June 2005, Official Report, column 1081W, what assessment he has made of the reasons that damages were awarded to the former Director General of the Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons, other than for loss of earnings.

Kim Howells: Following the original judgment of the International Labour Organisation Administrative Tribunal (ILOAT) and the subsequent review of the level of damages awarded, requested by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) with the support of States Party, which resulted in a reduced award to Mr. Bustani for material damages, the UK and other States Party accepted the judgment and supported OPCW's payment of the award, since ILOAT judgments are final.

Palestine

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the postponement of Palestinian elections.

Kim Howells: We support the efforts of Palestinian President Abbas to ensure that a credible election system is in place, and encourage the Palestinian Authority to complete the implementation of the remaining recommendations from the European Commission's Observation Mission. That said, we hope that the elections will take place as soon as possible with minimum slippage from the original time frame. We look forward to free, fair and credible Palestinian elections.

Shell

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet representatives of overseas community organisations to discuss concerns about the social and environmental consequences of Shell's operations in (a) Nigeria, (b) South Africa, (c) the Philippines, (d) Brazil and (e) Russia.

Ian Pearson: There are no plans for my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to meet any such overseas representatives. Questions about Shell's operations in other countries are for the company to answer.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is however in regular contact with Shell and other energy companies across all aspects of their corporate performance, including corporate social responsibility. This includes the UN Global Compact, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights.

UN Convention Against Corruption

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the UK expects to ratify the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.

Ian Pearson: The Government hope to be in a position to ratify the UN Convention against Corruption by the end of this year.

United Nations

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of the United Nations are full or partial democracies; and how many there were (a) 10 years ago and (b) 20 years ago.

Kim Howells: There is no commonly agreed, objective means of measuring whether a country is a full or partial democracy. However, certain NGOs, such as Freedom House, and academic institutions, such as the University of Maryland, assess annually the performance of countries against a range of indicators, which together provide some measure of how well a country's democracy is functioning. We draw on these and other resources to assess trends and estimate that from 1975 to 2005, the number of democracies in the world has increased from around 40 to over 140. These countries are not all full democracies, but exhibit at least some characteristics of a democracy. We welcome this trend.

Visa Applications

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visit visa applications made in July 2004 have yet to be finally concluded, including appeal proceedings; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: UKvisas hold no statistics on the number of visit visa applications made in July 2004 that have yet to be concluded because of an outstanding appeal.

Visa Applications

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the length of time taken by the British high commission, Islamabad to process a visa application from the time the application is received by Gerry's/FedEx until the person receives a visa or a refusal.

Kim Howells: Gerry's/FedEx aims to deliver visa applications submitted to their offices to the visa section of the British high commission, Islamabad on the following day.
	Once in receipt of the applications, the British high commission in Islamabad aims to decide all straightforward non-settlement visa applications within seven working days and all straightforward settlement applications within 12 weeks of receiving the application there.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Administration of Estates (Small Payments) Act

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will raise the current threshold of £5,000, set under the Administration of Estates (Small Payments) Act 1965, for the repayment of investments to personal representatives of the deceased without a grant of probate.

Bridget Prentice: Currently, there are no plans to raise the threshold.

Asylum Seekers (Legal Aid)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on the review which the Legal Service Commission has announced on legal aid services provided to asylum seekers.

Bridget Prentice: In most areas of the country there are an adequate number of suppliers and the LSC acts to ensure that any local gaps in supply are addressed as quickly as possible. The LSC is undertaking a needs analysis exercise to further match supply to demand. Since the changes were introduced, the number of firms and organisations undertaking this work has fallen, but during 2004–05 the net reduction was less than 10 per cent. This is in the context of a significant fall in asylum numbers from a peak of over 84,000 to 32,000 in 2004–05.

Asylum Seekers (Legal Aid)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans her Department has to evaluate the new funding arrangements for legal aid services on asylum and immigration issues which came into effect in April 2004.

Bridget Prentice: There is now sufficient information available to commence an analysis of the impact of the changes made to the asylum and immigration legal aid arrangements in April 2004. DCA officials will be working with the Legal Services Commission (LSC), Home Office and the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal to look at the impact on the asylum and immigration system as a whole. The operation of the new cost controls was subject to a review involving key stakeholders from the legal professions in July 2004.

Asylum Seekers (Legal Aid)

David Davis: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the cost was of legal aid for asylum and immigration cases in each year since 1997.

Bridget Prentice: The legal aid expenditure 1 for asylum and immigration cases in each year since 1997 are as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1996–97 26.1 
			 1997–98 35.2 
			 1998–99 53.3 
			 1999–2000 61.4 
			 2000–01 81.1 
			 2001–02 129.4 
			 2002–03 176.2 
			 2003–04 203.0 
		
	
	(26)It is now practice to quote expenditure/budgets in resource terms. However, since the question covers years prior to the adoption of resource accounting the answer has been given in cash terms for the purpose of continuity.
	Before April 2003 there was no separate, specific budget set for expenditure on immigration and asylum matters. In co-operation with the Home Office, we set up a Single Asylum Fund (SAF) to improve overall control of immigration spend. The figures given above for expenditure in that year form part of the SAF budget.
	-

Court Apparel

Ken Purchase: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will issue guidance to the courts regarding acceptable dress for barristers appearing in court in order to discourage barristers from wearing wigs and gowns.

Harriet Harman: The wearing of wigs and gowns in court by barristers is already governed by guidance in the form of Practice Directions made by the Lord Chancellor.
	The Lord Chancellor has no immediate plans to make further directions, prior to the implementation of Constitutional Reform Act 2005 and the Concordat planned for April of next year.

Legal Aid

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether it is her intention that decisions on means-testing for criminal legal aid can be made on the day of the relevant court appearance, under the provisions of the Criminal Defence Service Bill.

Bridget Prentice: Under the proposed scheme empowered by the Criminal Defence Service Bill, a decision on means testing may be made at any time from the commencement of the case onwards, including on the day of appearance in court.

Legal Aid

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether she plans to introduce a test for compliance with means-testing for criminal legal aid similar to that used for civil legal aid.

Bridget Prentice: Along with the means test for civil legal aid, the criminal means test proposed under the Criminal Defence Service Bill would be subject to a declaration that the evidence supplied is true and complete. Claims may be investigated by the Legal Services Commission that given information is indeed truthful, complete and accurate. This investigation would take a similar form to that of the investigation for claims for civil legal aid.

Legal Aid

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether she plans to give solicitors responsibility for (a) processing claims for legal aid and (b) obtaining documentary evidence under the means-testing provisions in the Criminal Defence Service Bill.

Bridget Prentice: Under the new scheme proposed by the Criminal Defence Service Bill, solicitors would not be responsible for processing claims for legal aid. This will be the responsibility of the Legal Services Commission. In practice however, the Commission would delegate this authority to grant teams within the courts who will carry out this function under a service level agreement between Her Majesty's Court Service and the Legal Services Commission. Solicitors may wish to assist their clients in completing the application forms, as defendants will be covered for this under the Advice and Assistance scheme.
	Evidentiary requirements would be simplified under the proposed scheme. It would be the responsibility of the defendant to produce no more than a single wage slip or bank statement confirming their income. The new scheme will be transparent and administratively simple.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Child Support Agency

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the operation of the Child Support Agency in Northern Ireland.

David Hanson: The agency produces an annual report and accounts, which provides detailed information on its performance against both ministerial and internal targets. The agency's report for 2004–05 will be laid in both the House of Commons and the Northern Ireland Assembly on 14 July 2005. Following this, the report will be available in the public domain.

Driving Standards

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what qualifications are required to be an examiner of those who are approved driving examiners; and what plans he has to review those requirements.

Angela Smith: Initial assessment of driving examiners is carried out by the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency's (DVTA) Supervising Examiners (SEs). This is followed by training and assessment by the Driving Standards Agency's (DSA) trainers at Cardington.
	DVTA SEs are selected through internal promotion procedures. Candidates undergo initial screening, followed by a seven-week course in Cardington, which includes learning, coaching and assessment techniques. The selection process for Cardington trainers includes assessment of presentation skills, in-car instruction and classroom sessions and is followed by a three-week training course.
	The agency's process for assessing driving examiners and SEs is based on the DSA model. There are currently no plans to review these requirements.

Driving Standards

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the driving test pass rate for each test centre in Northern Ireland was in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: The driving test pass rate for tests carried out at each of the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency's centres is provided in the following table.
	
		Percentage
		
			 Centre 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 to date 
		
		
			 Armagh 54 48 52 54 57 54 
			 Ballymena 49 49 46 44 40 43 
			 Belfast Balmoral 39 41 34 37 32 36 
			 Belfast Castlereagh 35 46 42 41 37 39 
			 Coleraine 53 49 52 48 47 49 
			 Cookstown 58 46 50 47 52 54 
			 Craigavon 51 44 45 45 52 54 
			 Downpatrick 62 60 60 59 65 58 
			 Enniskillen 68 66 64 67 57 59 
			 Larne 56 45 42 42 38 41 
			 Lisburn 56 49 44 45 38 37 
			 Londonderry 56 45 46 46 42 40 
			 Newry 58 51 51 55 56 57 
			 Newtownards 60 56 53 54 52 53 
			 Omagh 56 50 50 56 55 57 
			 Overall Pass Rate 53 48 47 47 47 38

Housing Benefit

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average time taken by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to process housing benefit applications in Northern Ireland was in 2004–05.

David Hanson: The average time taken by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to process housing benefit applications in Northern Ireland at May 2005 is as follows:
	37.61 days for a new application
	5.18 days for a change in circumstances in an existing case
	91.4 per cent. of claims were processed within 14 days of receipt of all necessary evidence/information.

Police Service

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many civilians are employed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and in what categories of employment.

Shaun Woodward: In June the Police Service of Northern Ireland employed the equivalent of 3,475 civilians. These can be broken down as follows.
	
		
			 Category Main grant Main grant agency Patten funded Patten funded agency Other funded Other funded agency 
		
		
			 Accident Investigator — 1 — — — — 
			 Accounting Technician 5 — — — — — 
			 Admin Assistant 493.25 125.5 — — 2 1 
			 Admin Officer 464.25 28.75 1 — 3 1 
			 Ancillary 22.5 — — — — — 
			 Architectural Liaison Officer — 1 — — — — 
			 Armourer Technical Grade 2 4 — — — — — 
			 Assistant Secretary Grade 5 1 — — — — — 
			 Assistant Crime Controller — 1.75 — — — — 
			 Assistant Emergency Planner — 1 — — — — 
			 Ass. Investigating Officer — 53 — — — — 
			 Ass. Solicitor Grade 5 1 — — — — — 
			 Ass. System Developer 2 — 2 — — — 
			 Boilerman 3 — — — — — 
			 Business Liaison — 8 — — — — 
			 Business Manager 23.75 — — — — — 
			 Chief H&S Officer 1 — — — — — 
			 Chief Medical Officer 1 — — — — — 
			 Chief Nursing Adviser 1 — — — — — 
			 Chief Pilot 1 — — — — — 
			 Clinical Psychologist 1 1 — — — — 
			 Crime Prevention Adviser 1 — — — — — 
			 Crime Scene Investigator 47 — — — — — 
			 Catering Manager 1.75 — — — — — 
			 Curator 1 — — — — — 
			 Deputy Chief Medical Adviser 1 — — — — — 
			 Deputy Dir. Human Resources 1 — — — — — 
			 Deputy Head of Media 1 — — — — — 
			 Director of Finance and Support Services 1 — — — — — 
			 Director of Human Resources 1 — — — — — 
			 Director of Physical Education 1 — — — — — 
			 Diversity Manager 1 — — — — — 
			 Diversity Officer 2 — — — — — 
			 Deputy Principal (DP) 18 — — — 1 — 
			 DP of Accounts 1 — — — — — 
			 DP Force Supplies Officer 1 — — — — — 
			 DP Management Accounts — 1 — — — — 
			 DP Project Sponsor 4 — — — 3 4 
			 Driving Instructor 21 — — — — — 
			 Education Adviser — 1 — — — — 
			 Employee Support 5 — — — — — 
			 Executive Officer I 54.5 8 — — — — 
			 Executive Officer II 198.75 10 — — 1 1 
			 Explosives Inspector — 3 — — — — 
			 First Aid Instructor 3 — — — — — 
			 Fingerprint Investigator — — — — 4 4 
			 Fingerprint Officer 14 6 — — — — 
			 Fingerprint Assistant 9 1 — — — — 
			 Fire Officer 1 — — — — — 
			 Fingerprint Technician 2.75 — — — — — 
			 Fingerprint Photographer 1 — — — — — 
			 Garment Technician 1 — — — — — 
			 Graph Officer 3 — — — — — 
			 Groundsman 25 — — — — — 
			 Photographic Officer 1 — — — — — 
			 Higher Scientific Officer 1 — — — — — 
			 H&S Administration 1 — — — — — 
			 H&S Adviser 4 — — — — — 
			 HCS Grade 7 1 — — — — — 
			 HCS Senior Principal 1 — — — — — 
			 Head Financial Accounting 1 — — — — — 
			 Head Management Accounting 1 — — — — — 
			 Head Info Comp Technology 1 — — — — — 
			 Head of Media 1 — — — — — 
			 Head of Simulated Learning 1 — — — — — 
			 Head of Transport 1 — — — — — 
			 HOLMES — 1 — — — — 
			 HOLMES Index — 1 46 — — — 
			 HPTO 4 — — — — — 
			 HR Project Analyst 1 — — — — — 
			 Instructional Officer 1 — — — — — 
			 Investigation Officer — 2.75 — — — — 
			 Jnr Occupational Psychologist 3 — — — — — 
			 Kennel Assistant 2 3 — — — — 
			 Legal Adviser — — 1 — — — 
			 Mapping Officer 10.75 — — — — — 
			 Medical Adviser 1 — — — — — 
			 Management Accountant 1 — 1.75 — — — 
			 Nursing Adviser 3 — — — — — 
			 Occupational Health Nurse 2.5 — — — — — 
			 Occupational Health Adviser 1 — — — — — 
			 Personnel Manager 5 — — — — — 
			 Personnel Officer 18 6 — — — — 
			 Personal Secretary 23.75 — — — — — 
			 Photographic Officer 26 1 — — — — 
			 Physical Education Co-ordinator 1 — — — — — 
			 Physical Education Instructor 8 — — — — — 
			 Physiotherapist 1 — — — — — 
			 Pilot 3 — — — — — 
			 Analyst 28 — 15 — — — 
			 Porter/Driver 8 1 — — — — 
			 Porter/Labourer 10.5 8 — — — — 
			 Grade 7 6 1 — — — — 
			 Prin. Crime Scene Investigator 8 — — — — — 
			 Telecommunication Engineer 1 — — — — — 
			 Accountant 2 — — — — — 
			 Occupational Psychologist 2 — — — — — 
			 Principal Grade 3 — — — — — 
			 Practice Nurse 2 — — — — — 
			 Press Officer 11.5 — — — — — 
			 Programmer 9 4 — — — — 
			 Programmer Assistant 23.75 — — — — — 
			 Project Manager 6 4 — — 5 5 
			 Principal Technical Officer 5 — — — — — 
			 Public Affairs 1 — — — — — 
			 Range Warden 1 — — — — — 
			 Recruiting — 0.25 — — — — 
			 Research — 3 — — — — 
			 Research Assistant — 2 — — — — 
			 Risk Assessor — 3 — — — — 
			 Systems Analyst 17 2 — — — — 
			 Support Management 1 — — — — — 
			 Scientific Officer 2 — — — — — 
			 Senior Armourer 1 — — — — — 
			 Senior Graphic Officer 1 — — — — — 
			 Senior Legal Assistant 1 — — — — — 
			 Senior Project Manager 4 — — — — — 
			 Senior Systems Analyst 5 — — — — — 
			 Senior Store Person 1 — — — — — 
			 Support Grade Band 1 — 1 — — — — 
			 SGB1 Comms Assistant 118.5 13 — — — — 
			 SGB1 Messenger/Driver 2 13 — — — — 
			 SGB1 Reprographics Officer 6 — — — — — 
			 SGB1 Security Guard 32 6 — — — — 
			 SGB2 Armoury Officer 3 — — — — — 
			 SGB2 Day Cleaner 198.25 41.5 — — — — 
			 SGB2 Messenger 6.75 — — — — — 
			 SGB2 Paper Keeper 2 — — — — — 
			 SGB2 Range Warden 1 — — — — — 
			 SGB2 Reprographics Officer 2 1 — — — — — 
			 SGB2 Section House Warden 1 — — — — — 
			 SGB2 Section House Store Person 1 — — — — — 
			 SGB2 Split Duty Cleaner 13.25 2 — — — — 
			 SGB2 Station Staff 15 — — — — — 
			 Security Guards 2 — — — — — 
			 Building Administration 1 — — — — — 
			 Snr Crime Scene Officers 1 — — — — — 
			 Snr Fingerprint Officers 11 — — — — — 
			 Snr H&S Adviser 1 — — — — — 
			 Snr Imaging Officer 4 — — — — — 
			 Snr Personal Secretary 1 — — — — — 
			 Snr Press Officer 5 — — — — — 
			 Snr Scientific Officer 1 — — — — — 
			 Snr Traffic Warden 23 — — — — — 
			 Staff Officer 26.5 2.75 2 — — — 
			 SO Accountant 2 — — — — — 
			 SO Results Analyst 1 — — — — — 
			 Personal Assistant 1 — — — — — 
			 Quality of Services Officers 2 — — — — — 
			 SPTO 5 — — — — — 
			 Snr First Aid Instructor 1 — — — — — 
			 Engineer SPTO 2 — — — — — 
			 Station Receptionist — — 74 — — — 
			 Store Person 2 — — — — — 
			 Store Officer Grade C 3 — — — — — 
			 Store Officer Grade D 1 — — — — — 
			 Snr Telecommunications Man 1 — — — — — 
			 Supervisor 19 — — — — — 
			 Support Grade 1 8.5 3 — — — — 
			 Support Grade 2 2 1 — — — — 
			 Support Manager 3 4.5 — — — — — 
			 Systems Integration Architect 1 — — — — — 
			 Systems Support Officer 2 — — — — — 
			 Training Police Analyst 11 — 4 — — — 
			 Tailor Assistant 1 — — — — — 
			 Technical Grade 1 1 1 — — — — 
			 Technical Research Officer 1 — — — — — 
			 Telecommunication Engineer 73 — — — — — 
			 Telecoms Engineer 1 9 — — — — — 
			 Telecoms Engineer 2 20 — — — — — 
			 Telecoms Mechanic 14 — — — — — 
			 Ten Print Administrator 5 — — — — — 
			 Tradesperson 57 1 — — — — 
			 Traffic Warden 74 3 — — — — 
			 Trainee Accountant 1 — — — — — 
			 Trainer — 7 — 6 — — 
			 Transport Assistant — 4 — — — — 
			 Transport Co-ordinator 59 4 — — — — 
			 Training Support Officer — 2 — — — — 
			 Typing Manager 27.5 — — — — — 
			 Typist 281 1 — — — — 
			
			 Total 2,886.5 401.25 146.75 6 19 16

Pupil Exclusions

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils were excluded from schools in each education and library board area as a result of violence or threatening behaviour in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The reasons for suspension were first collected in 2002/03 school year and relate to the number of individual suspensions not the number of pupils suspended. The reason for a suspension is categorised by a school into one often possibilities.
	The information on relevant individual suspensions for 2002/03 school year is as follows:
	
		
			  BELB WELB NEELB SEELB SELB Total 
		
		
			 Physical attack on staff 75 99 91 64 36 365 
			 Verbal abuse of staff 385 382 459 366 434 2,026 
			 Physical attack on pupil 293 392 434 347 387 1,853 
			 Verbal abuse of pupil 17 14 42 49 29 151 
			 Bullying of pupil 53 52 66 57 61 289 
		
	
	The detailed suspension data for 2003/04 submitted by the Southern Education and Library Board (SELB) has still to be fully analysed. When this has been done in the near future, I will write to the hon. Member and provide the SELB statistics. The 4-Board information for 2003/04 school year is as follows:
	
		
			  BELB WELB NEELB SEELB SELB Total 
		
		
			 Physical attack on staff 73 72 49 79 n/a 273 
			 Verbal abuse of staff 473 486 534 352 n/a 1,845 
			 Physical attack on pupil 400 353 521 345 n/a 1,619 
			 Verbal abuse of pupil 22 46 43 23 n/a 134 
			 Bullying of pupil 73 64 84 49 n/a 270 
		
	
	The reasons for expulsion were first collected in 2003/04 and are available on the Department's website at: www.deni.gov.uk/facts_figures/education_stats/index_other.htm.
	The numbers involved are relatively small and are not disaggregated between education and library boards because of the risk that a school/pupil may be identifiable.

School Buses

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to improve safety on school buses in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Compared to other modes, travelling to school by bus is already a safe means of transport. However, the issue of safety on school buses is currently under consideration by the Department of the Environment in its assessment of the four key recommendations of the Northern Ireland Assembly's inquiry into home to school transport. It is expected that the findings of this work, which is being carried out in partnership with the Department for Regional Development and the Department of Education, will be published later this year.
	Furthermore, Education and Library Boards (ELBs) have been working towards the goal of providing seat belts on all new ELB vehicles in accordance with legislative requirements. At current rates this will take at least six years. To date, seat belts have been fitted on 63 per cent. of ELB vehicles.

School Buses

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children use education and library board buses on average each day.

Angela Smith: In 2004/05 a total of 27,880 pupils were eligible to use Education and Library Board buses each day.

School Buses

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many accidents involving children on education and library board buses occurred in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: The number of accidents reported to the PSNI, involving pupils on Education and Library Board vehicles in the last five years, is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2000 4 
			 2001 8 
			 2002 6 
			 2003 8 
			 2004 4 
			 2005 (28)4 
		
	
	(28)To date

School Buses

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the cost of the removal of the policy of three for two seating on school buses by education and library boards.

Angela Smith: Three Education and Library Boards no longer apply the three-for-two seating arrangement. The estimated capital cost in the remaining Western and South Eastern Boards is some £1.2 million for the purchase of an additional 16 new vehicles (eight per board).
	The phasing out of three-for-two seating will proceed as part of the process to introduce seat belts in all board vehicles.

School Buses

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the cost of a no-standing on school buses policy by education and library boards.

Angela Smith: The introduction of a no standing" policy in relation to school bus transport is one of the issues currently under consideration by the Department of the Environment in its assessment of the four key recommendations of the Northern Ireland Assembly's inquiry into home to school transport. This assessment, which also investigates the abolition of 3 for 2", the fitting of seat belts and the provision of improved signage and lighting, will include a detailed analysis of the costs of implementing these recommendations.
	It is expected that the findings of this work, which is being carried out in partnership with the Department for Regional Development and the Department of Education, will be published later this year.

Sign Language

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is on the use of sign language in schools in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The general aim of local deaf education is to teach deaf and hearing impaired children to speak wherever possible. This happens with hearing impaired children in mainstream schools and special education units for the hearing impaired, attached to those schools. Occasionally, a child attending a unit needs to be taught, at least partly, through the medium of sign language and this would be provided by the teacher and classroom assistant, where appropriate.
	The only local school to use sign language on a regular basis is Jordanstown Special School, which employs Total Communication" methods ie a mixture of speech, lip reading and signing.
	The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment, addresses deafness as a disability in a number of ways in the revised curriculum. It will be more holistic and flexible, with greater emphasis on real-world skills, such as communication, and a specific element of Learning for Life and Work. Legislation will be in place by September 2006 and the revised curriculum will be introduced on a phased basis stretching to 2009/10.

Sign Language

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what resources have been allocated to help schools and colleges in Northern Ireland employ tutors in the use of sign language.

Angela Smith: The Department provides £1 million under the Additional Support Fund in further education which, among other things, can be used to provide assistance towards the cost of sign language interpreters. It is impossible, however, to disaggregate the actual amount spent specifically for this facility.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which members of the Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs have an expertise in (a) schizophrenia, (b) neurology and (c) toxicology; and what the extent of that expertise is in each case.

Paul Goggins: The following members of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs have an expertise in one or more of the following areas of schizophrenia/mental health, neurology and toxicology:
	Professor Sir Michael Rawlins, Professor of Pharmacology, University of Newcastle.
	Dr. Margaret Birtwistle, Specialist General Practitioner in Substance Misuse.
	Carmel Clancy, Principal Lecturer, Mental Health and Addictions, Middlesex University.
	Professor Ilana Crome, Professor of Addiction Psychiatry, Keel University Medical School.
	Robyn Doran, Mental Health Nurse specialising in Substance Misuse.
	Professor Robin Ganellin, Emeritus Professor of Medicinal Chemistry.-
	Dr. Clare Gerada, General Practitioner, London Practise and Primary Care lead for Drug Misuse.
	Professor Leslie Iversen, Professor of Pharmacology, University of Oxford.
	Dr. John Marsden, Research Psychologist, Institute of Psychiatry.
	Professor David Nutt, Professor of Psychopharmacology, University of Bristol.
	Dr. Richard Pates, Consultant Clinical Psychologist.
	Dr. Roy Robertson, General Practitioner.
	Dr. Mary Rowlands, Consultant Psychiatrist in Substance Misuse.
	Members are appointed on the basis of their individual qualities, expertise and knowledge. The extent of this expertise and knowledge is reflected in the fact that they are leading experts in their respective fields.

Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons he has restricted the investigation of the Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs into only the stronger varieties of cannabis.

Paul Goggins: The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) has been asked by the Home Secretary to consider the recent studies into links and associations between taking any strength of cannabis and the development of mental health problems. The ACMD will consider these studies in terms of its overall assessment of the classification of cannabis. The ACMD has also been directed to consider the reports of increased prevalence of cannabis with high levels of Tetrahydrocannabinol(THC).

African Children

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many African boys he estimates have disappeared in the United Kingdom since September 2001.

Hazel Blears: This data is not collected centrally.

Airguns

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes involving the firing of (a) an air pistol and (b) an air rifle were recorded in each of the last five years.

Hazel Blears: The available information relates to crimes recorded by the police in which firearms are reported to have been used. Statistics are available
	for air weapons, but air pistols and air rifles cannot be separately identified within this category. The available statistics for air weapons are published in Table 2.03 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin 02/05, Crime in England and Wales 2003/04: Supplementary Volume 1: Homicide and Gun Crime". A copy is available in the Library.
	It should be noted that for an offence in which a firearm is reported to be used, the firearm does not have necessarily have to be fired. It could be used as a blunt instrument against a person or used as a threat.

Antisocial Behaviour

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government is taking to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Hazel Blears: The TOGETHER campaign was set up to ensure that anti-social behaviour is dealt with swiftly and effectively by local services. The first phase was about equipping practitioners with the tools and the know-how. We have seen some good results: Over 4,500 Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs), over 150 crack house closure orders and over 400 dispersal orders have been issued.
	As part of the next phase on the campaign, we will ensure we give the right help and support to communities so they know what they can do to tackle problems of anti-social behaviour and what they can expect from local services. As announced on the 29th June 2005, from 1st July 2005 provisions from the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, will give vulnerable witnesses in ASBO cases the protection and support they need in court.
	There will also be the lifting of automatic reporting restrictions to allow the local media to give details of those who breach their ASBOs.
	Funding for Individual Support Orders (ISOs) for young people between the ages of 10 and 17 years of age will be increased by £500,000. ISOs can be attached to an ASBO and direct the young person to activities and support to address the underlying causes of their anti-social behaviour. This can include anger management courses and alcohol and drug misuse programmes.

Antisocial Behaviour

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued in the Essex Police Authority Area; and how many have been breached;
	(2)  how many people have received a custodial sentence for breach of an anti-social behaviour order in Essex;
	(3)  how many people have been taken to court for breach of an anti-social behaviour order in Essex; and how many have been found guilty.

Hazel Blears: The Court Proceedings Database held by my Department holds breach proceedings only where there has been a conviction. Data on convictions for breach of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) are currently available from one June 2000 to 31 December 2003. During this period my Department received notification of 15 persons receiving ASBOs in the Essex criminal justice system area which is coterminous with the police authority area. Of these, two were convicted of breaching their ASBO on one or more occasions. Both received a custodial sentence for at least one of the breaches.
	Breach data for 2004 will be available towards the end of the year.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what guidance his Department has issued to magistrates in England and Wales in respect of applications for antisocial behaviour orders;
	(2)  what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities in England and Wales in respect of applications for antisocial behaviour orders;
	(3)  what guidance his Department has issued to police authorities in England and Wales in respect of applications for anti-social behaviour orders.

Hazel Blears: Our publications A Guide to Antisocial Behaviour Orders and Acceptable Behaviour Contracts" and Guidance on Publicising Antisocial Behaviour Orders" together with information provided by our TOGETHER website and Action Line, provides comprehensive guidance for all practitioners, including police authorities, magistrates and local authorities. Joint guidance issued by the Home Office, Youth Justice Board and the Association of Chief Police Officers provides Youth Offending Teams with advice on their role in preventing and reducing antisocial behaviour. The Justices' Clerks' Society and the Judicial Studies Board have both published specific guidance and training material for magistrates on the use of ASBOs. In addition, Her Majesty's Courts Service has recently issued new guidance on ASBOs for judges sitting in the magistrates, crown and county courts.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued in each London borough; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The available information is given in the table.
	
		The number of ASBOs issued at all courts, as reported to the Home Office, where restrictions are imposed within local authority areas in Greater London, 1 June 2000(29)to 30 September 2004 (latest available)
		
			 Area Number issued 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 1 
			 Barnet 10 
			 Bexley 16 
			 Brent 10 
			 Bromley 7 
			 Camden 65 
			 City of London 4 
			 Croydon 14 
			 Ealing 12 
			 Enfield 4 
			 Greenwich 11 
			 Hackney 7 
			 Hammersmith & Fulham 8 
			 Haringey 9 
			 Harrow 5 
			 Havering 5 
			 Hillingdon 8 
			 Hounslow 18 
			 Islington 8 
			 Kensington and Chelsea Royal Borough 8 
			 Kingston-on-Thames 5 
			 Lambeth 14 
			 Lewisham 13 
			 Merton 10 
			 Newham 5 
			 Richmond upon Thames 8 
			 Southwark 11 
			 Sutton 7 
			 Tower Hamlets 9 
			 Waltham Forest 7 
			 Wandsworth 12 
			 Westminster 24 
			 Total 355 
		
	
	(29) Between 1 April 1999 and 31 May 2000 data were collected on aggregate numbers only by police force area (pfa). During this period a total of nine ASBOs were reported within the Greater London pfa.

Assaults (Race/Religion)

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of (a) Muslims, (b) Sikhs, (c) Jews, (d) Christians and (e) Hindus who were victims of an unprovoked assault in which race or religion was assessed as a factor in the last year for which figures were available.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Assaults (Race/Religion)

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many victims of assaults, in which race was assessed as a factor, were of (a) white European, (b) white British, (c) African-Caribbean and (d) gipsy traveller extraction in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Asset Recovery Scheme

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was recovered under the asset recovery scheme in each police authority area for (a) each year since inception and (b) as a cumulative total by descending value.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 27 June 2005
	The police asset recovery incentivisation scheme came into operation in 2004–05. Police force performance on recovering the proceeds of crime is measured by the value of cash forfeitures and confiscation orders obtained by a force. The value of orders obtained by each police force in 2004–05 is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Police force Total value of cash forfeitures and confiscation orders obtained by the police service in 2004–05 (£) 
		
		
			 Metropolitan Police Service 26,426,648.39 
			 National Crime Squad 11,940,373.79 
			 Lancashire Constabulary 3,743,146.94 
			 Greater Manchester Police 3,453,431.70 
			 Merseyside Police 2,908,711.21 
			 Cambridgeshire Constabulary 2,695,434.41 
			 Derbyshire Constabulary 2,540,453.70 
			 West Yorkshire Police 2,265,457.57 
			 City of London Police 2,211,123.08 
			 West Midlands Police 2,053,433.63 
			 Avon and Somerset Constabulary 1,959,930.23 
			 Kent Police 1,926,936.62 
			 Police Service of Northern Ireland 1,769,094.32 
			 Nottinghamshire Police 1,336,612.41 
			 South Yorkshire Police 1,330,077.48 
			 Devon and Cornwall Constabulary 1,182,881.95 
			 Cumbria Constabulary 1,124,156.05 
			 Northamptonshire Police 1,063,417.47 
			 Dorset Police 1,050,401.06 
			 Sussex Police 1,002,181.72 
			 West Mercia Constabulary 999,467.06 
			 Norfolk Constabulary 911,868.06 
			 Northumbria Police 909,645.62 
			 Leicestershire Constabulary 891,588.29 
			 Thames Valley Police 750,663.61 
			 Surrey Police 648,947.84 
			 Cheshire Constabulary 541,557.19 
			 Wiltshire Constabulary 482,559.71 
			 Durham Constabulary 477,399.45 
			 Gwent Police 442,673.90 
			 Hertfordshire Constabulary 440,353.93 
			 Suffolk Constabulary 430,715.69 
			 South Wales Police 400,577.52 
			 Gloucestershire Constabulary 390,468.23 
			 Hampshire Constabulary 333,792.86 
			 Lincolnshire Police 307,912.23 
			 British Transport Police 281,376.94 
			 Staffordshire Police 260,405.82 
			 Humberside Police 255,656.67 
			 Cleveland Police 230,220.07 
			 North Yorkshire Police 205,081.94 
			 Dyfed-Powys Police 201,061.20 
			 Essex Police 192,804.57 
			 Bedfordshire Police 154,828.69 
			 North Wales Police 109,758.12 
			 Warwickshire Police 57,357.29 
			 Total value of orders 85,292,646.23

Asset Recovery Scheme

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was recovered in criminal assets by the Metropolitan Police in each year since 1997; and how much was distributed to the Metropolitan Police from criminal assets recovered in each year.

Hazel Blears: The information is not available in the format requested. The total value of cash forfeitures and confiscation orders obtained by the Metropolitan Police Service was £5,868,992 in 2003–04 and £26,426,648 in 2004–05. Money from recovered assets is distributed to the police service under the police incentivisation scheme which came into operation in 2004–05. Under the scheme the Metropolitan Police Service received £4,027,855 on the basis of its performance in 2004–05 .

Asylum Seekers

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last six months escorted detainees from Yarl's Wood Detention Centre have refused to board aircraft in pursuance of a deportation order and been returned to Yarl's Wood; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 29 June 2005]: From December 2004—May 2005, 114 escorted detainees from Yarl's Wood have refused to board an aircraft in pursuance of a deportation or following refusal of leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom and been returned to Yarl's Wood.

Asylum Seekers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been accepted into the UK since 1997; and how many of these were (a) Nigerian, (b) Algerian, (c) Iraqi, (d) Chinese, (e) Bangladeshi, (f) Pakistani, (g) Turkish, (h) Albanian, (i) Bosnian, (j) Mexican, (k) Sudanese, (l) Zimbabwean and (m) Palestinian.

Tony McNulty: The requested information on when asylum seekers arrive in the UK is not available. Data on applications by asylum seekers, by nationality, are based on the date when an application is made. Data on applications, and on initial decision outcomes and appeal outcomes are published in the annual bulletin Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 2003, and (data for 2004) Asylum Statistics: 4th Quarter 2004 United Kingdom. Copies are available in the Library of the House and on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	The tables show application, initial decision and appeal outcome data, where available, for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mexico and Palestine that are currently not available on the website.
	
		Asylum applications received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decisions(30)on applications, 1997–2004(31), nationals of Bosnia-Herzegovina -- Principal applicants
		
			  Applications Decisions 
			  Total Port In country Total decisions Grants of asylum Grants of ELR Grants of HP(32) Grants of DL(32) 
		
		
			 1997 170 25 145 385 235 120 n/a n/a 
			 1998 160 55 110 95 45 20 n/a n/a 
			 1999 175 50 125 65 30 5 n/a n/a 
			 2000 105 25 80 310 45 25 n/a n/a 
			 2001 50 15 35 190 10 20 n/a n/a 
			 2002 50 5 45 75 5 5 n/a n/a 
			 2003 35 5 30 65 * * — * 
			 2004(33) 15 * 15 25 — n/a — * 
		
	
	
		
			  Decisions 
			  Total refusals Certified refusals Other refusals Third city refusals(34) Non-compliance refusals(35) Grants of ELR under backlog criteria(36)(5507990037) Non compliance refusals under backlog criteria(36)(5507990037) 
		
		
			 1997 25 0 10 10 5 (30) 0 — (30) 0 — 
			 1998 30 5 20 5 * (30) 0 — (30) 0 — 
			 1999 5 5 — 5 * 15 10 
			 2000 185 (30) 0 — 110 * 70 35 20 
			 2001 160 25 70 — 65 (30) 0 — (30) 0 — 
			 2002 65 10 30 — 25 (30) 0 — (30) 0 — 
			 2003 60 * 35 — 20 (30) 0 — (30) 0 — 
			 2004(33) 20 * 15 — 5 (30) 0 — (30) 0 — 
		
	
	n/a = not applicable
	(30)Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
	(31)Figures rounded to nearest 5, with *' = 1 or 2.
	(32)Humanitarian protection and discretionary leave replaced exceptional leave to remain from 1 April 2003.
	(33)Provisional figures
	(34)Refused on the grounds that the applicant had arrived from a safe third country.
	(35)Paragraph 340 of Immigration Rules. For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to invitation to interview.
	(36)Cases decided under pragmatic measures aimed at reducing the pre 1996 asylum backlog.
	(37)May include a small number of cases where asylum has been granted.
	(38)May include a small number of cases where the application has been refused on substantive grounds.
	(39) 0 Not available.
	
		Outcome of appeals(40)determined by adjudicators of the Immigration Appellate Authority, excluding dependants, nationals of Bosnia-Herzegovina,1997–2004 -- Number of principal appellants
		
			  Appeals determined by adjudicators(41) 
			   Allowed Dismissed Withdrawn 
			  Total Total As percentage of determined Total As percentage of determined Total As percentage of determined 
		
		
			 1997 n/a n/a  n/a  n/a  
			 1998 n/a n/a  n/a  n/a  
			 1999 n/a n/a  n/a  n/a  
			 2000 n/a n/a  n/a  n/a  
			 2001 65 15 25 40 65 5 10 
			 2002 65 25 34 35 51 10 15 
			 2003 65 15 22 40 64 10 14 
			 2004(42) 40 10 27 25 66 5 6 
		
	
	n/a = not available.
	(40)Figures rounded to nearest 5 (except percentages), with *' = 1 or 2.
	Data on appeal outcomes by nationality in this table are derived from electronic sources.
	(41)Figures include cases withdrawn by the Home Office, as well as the appellant.
	(42)Provisional figures.
	
		Asylum applications received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decisions(43)on applications, 1997–2004(44),nationals of Mexico -- Principal applicants
		
			  Applications Decisions 
			  Total Port In country Total decisions Grants of asylum Grants of ELR Grants of HP(45) Grants of DL(45) 
		
		
			 1997 5 — 5 — — — n/a n/a 
			 1998 * — * * — — n/a n/a 
			 1999 — — — — — — n/a n/a 
			 2000 * * — 5 * — n/a n/a 
			 2001 5 — 5 * — — n/a n/a 
			 2002 5 — 5 * — — n/a n/a 
			 2003 * * — 5 — — — — 
			 2004(46) * — * — — n/a — — 
		
	
	
		
			  Decisions 
			  Total refusals Certified refusals Other refusals Third city refusals(47) Non-compliance refusals(48) Grants of ELR under backlog criteria(49)(5507990050) Non compliance refusals under backlog criteria(49)(5507990050) 
		
		
			 1997 — — — — — (43) 0 — (43) 0 — 
			 1998 * * — — — (43) 0 — (43) 0 — 
			 1999 — — — — — — — 
			 2000 * (43) 0 — * — * — — 
			 2001 * — * — — (43) 0 — (43) 0 — 
			 2002 * * — — * (43) 0 — (43) 0 — 
			 2003 5 — * — * (43) 0 — (43) 0 — 
			 2004(46) — — — — — (43) 0 — (43) 0 — 
		
	
	n/a = not applicable
	(43)Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
	(44)Figures rounded to nearest 5, with *' = 1 or 2.
	(45)Humanitarian protection and discretionary leave replaced exceptional leave to remain from 1 April 2003.
	(46)Provisional figures
	(47)Refused on the grounds that the applicant had arrived from a safe third country.
	(48)Paragraph 340 of Immigration Rules. For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to invitation to interview.
	(49)Cases decided under pragmatic measures aimed at reducing the pre 1996 asylum backlog.
	(50)May include a small number of cases where asylum has been granted.
	(51)May include a small number of cases where the application has been refused on substantive grounds.
	(52) 0 Not available.
	
		Outcome of appeals(53)determined by adjudicators of the Immigration Appellate Authority, excluding dependants, nationals of Mexico, 1997–2004 -- Number of principal appellants
		
			  Appeals determined by adjudicators(54) 
			   Allowed Dismissed Withdrawn 
			  Total Total As percentage of determined Total As percentage of determined Total As percentage of determined 
		
		
			 1997 n/a n/a  n/a  n/a  
			 1998 n/a n/a  n/a  n/a  
			 1999 n/a n/a  n/a  n/a  
			 2000 n/a n/a  n/a  n/a  
			 2001 — — 0 — 100 — 0 
			 2002 * — 0 * 100 — 0 
			 2003 5 — 0 5 100 — 0 
			 2004(55) * — 0 * 100 — 0 
		
	
	n/a = not available.
	(53)Figures rounded to nearest 5 (except percentages), with *' = 1 or 2.
	Data on appeal outcomes by nationality in this table are derived from electronic sources.
	(54)Figures include cases withdrawn by the Home Office, as well as the appellant.
	(55)Provisional figures.
	
		Asylum applications received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decisions(56)on applications, 1997–2004(57), Palestine  -- Principal applicants
		
			  Applications Decisions 
			  Total Port In country Total decisions Grants of asylum Grants of ELR Grants of HP(58) Grants of DL(58) 
		
		
			 1997 110 100 10 45 15 15 n/a n/a 
			 1998 105 65 35 20 10 — n/a n/a 
			 1999 280 175 105 40 15 5 n/a n/a 
			 2000 350 195 155 300 15 15 n/a n/a 
			 2001 375 155 215 70 * * n/a n/a 
			 2002 365 105 255 240 10 10 n/a n/a 
			 2003 345 95 250 1,240 10 10 * 20 
			 2004(59) 465 55 415 550 10 n/a — 20 
		
	
	
		
			  Decisions 
			  Total refusals Certified refusals Other refusals Third city refusals(60) Non-compliance refusals(61) Grants of ELR under backlog criteria(62)(5507990063) Non compliance refusals under backlog criteria(62)(5507990063) 
		
		
			 1997 15 * 10 — 5 (56) 0 — (56) 0 — 
			 1998 10 — 5 5 — (56) 0 — (56) 0 — 
			 1999 15 * 5 10 * 5 — 
			 2000 240 (56) 0 — 150 10 85 30 * 
			 2001 70 10 30 5 25 (56) 0 — (56) 0 — 
			 2002 225 * 170 5 50 (56) 0 — (56) 0 — 
			 2003 1,200 5 1,035 5 155 (56) 0 — (56) 0 — 
			 2004(59) 520 — 410 30 80 (56) 0 — (56) 0 — 
		
	
	n/a = not applicable
	(56)Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
	(57)Figures rounded to nearest 5, with *' = 1 or 2.
	(58)Humanitarian protection and discretionary leave replaced exceptional leave to remain from 1 April 2003.
	(59)Provisional figures
	(60)Refused on the grounds that the applicant had arrived from a safe third country.
	(61)Paragraph 340 of Immigration Rules. For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to invitation to interview.
	(62)Cases decided under pragmatic measures aimed at reducing the pre 1996 asylum backlog.
	(63)May include a small number of cases where asylum has been granted.
	(64)May include a small number of cases where the application has been refused on substantive grounds.
	(65) 0 Not available.
	
		Outcome of appeals(66)determined by adjudicators of the Immigration Appellate Authority, excluding dependants, Palestine, 1997–2004 -- Number of principal appellants
		
			  Appeals determined by adjudicators(67) 
			   Allowed Dismissed Withdrawn 
			  Total Total As percentage of determined Total As percentage of determined Total As percentage of determined 
		
		
			 1997 n/a n/a  n/a  n/a  
			 1998 n/a n/a  n/a  n/a  
			 1999 n/a n/a  n/a  n/a  
			 2000 n/a n/a  n/a  n/a  
			 2001 65 20 31 40 61 5 7 
			 2002 50 15 33 30 64 * 2 
			 2003 735 155 21 545 74 35 5 
			 2004(68) 1,010 180 18 805 79 30 3 
		
	
	n/a = not available.
	(66)Figures rounded to nearest 5 (except percentages), with *' = 1 or 2.
	Data on appeal outcomes by nationality in this table are derived from electronic sources.
	(67)Figures include cases withdrawn by the Home Office, as well as the appellant.
	(68)Provisional figures.

Asylum Seekers

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on UK immigration policy on Kurdish asylum seekers and refugees from Turkey.

Tony McNulty: Asylum and human rights claims by Kurdish asylum seekers from Turkey are, like those of all claimants, from all countries, considered on their individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). If the claimant meets the definition of a refugee in the 1951 Refugee Convention, they are granted asylum. If they do not qualify for asylum, but there are other circumstances that make them particularly vulnerable and engage our obligations under the ECHR, they are granted humanitarian protection or discretionary leave. If an application is refused, and any appeal is unsuccessful, then we expect the individual concerned to leave the UK voluntarily. If they do not, we consider that it is entirely reasonable for us to enforce the return of that individual

Ball Bearing Guns

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there were for the illegal use of ball bearing guns in public places in (a) North Yorkshire and (b) in England and Wales in the last year for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: It is not possible for the statistics collected centrally on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database to distinguish ball bearing guns or more accurately, airsoft weapons from other imitation firearms.

Burglary

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many house burglaries there have been since 1996; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is published in Table 2.04 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin 10/04 entitled Crime in England and Wales 200304. A copy of this publication is available in the Library.

Child Trafficking

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with (a) his EU counterparts and (b) senior police officers on tackling (i) child prostitution and (ii) child trafficking; what proposals were examined; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: Child prostitution and trafficking are abhorrent crimes, and the Government have acted swiftly to set tough penalties for these offences. There have been no recent discussions with EU officials or senior police officers on tackling child prostitution. However, guidance on Safeguarding Children Involved in Prostitution was circulated to the police and other agencies in May 2000 as supplementary to the wider Working Together to Safeguard Children. The guidance stresses the need to treat children involved in prostitution primarily as victims of abuse, provides advice to agencies on ways to work together to safeguard and promote the child's welfare and encourages proactive policing so that, wherever possible, action is taken against the exploiters through the criminal justice system. New offences with severe penalties were introduced in the Sexual Offences Act 2003 to enable the police to take firm action against anyone paying for the sexual services of a child, causing or inciting child prostitution, arranging or facilitating child prostitution, controlling a child prostitute, or trafficking a child into or within the UK for sexual exploitation. The Government are currently conducting a review of prostitution which includes consideration of action on child abuse through prostitution and people trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation. The Association of Chief Police Officers has contributed to the review and will continue to be involved in discussions on how to tackle these issues. In the case of child trafficking, despite a few high profile instances of children being trafficked into and through the UK, there is insufficient information to say if this is a growing problem. However, the nature of the crime demands that is treated very seriously. Government have introduced criminal sanctions covering child traffickers. In addition to the Sexual Offences Act 2003, measures in the new Asylum and Immigration Act 2004 make it an offence to traffic for other purposes, for example, domestic servitude or benefit fraud. The Government have also tasked Reflex, the government's multi-agency response to organised immigration crime, with co-ordinating intelligence on the problem of trafficking. The Metropolitan Police led an Operation (Paladin) to profile unaccompanied children arriving at Heathrow. This threw up a number of child protection issues that might not otherwise have come to light. Officials from the Immigration and Nationality Directorate met the Metropolitan Police on 15 June 2005 and have agreed to take forward the creation of a permanent multi-agency partnership team based at Heathrow. The team will address the specific safeguarding needs of unaccompanied minors. We have made people trafficking a priority for our presidency of the EU. During our presidency we aim to improve co-operation among member states so that we achieve operational results and prosecutions, making it impossible for organised immigration crime businesses to operate within the EU. We want to encourage greater police co-operation through EUROPOL and the sharing of best practice on investigations and prosecutions by raising awareness of the role of Eurojust. We will also be working closely with our EU partners to ensure that the Hague Programme commitment for the EU Commission and EU Council to draw up an action plan on trafficking is met. In addition to discussions within the EU, trafficking is an important issue for the G8. Tackling trafficking and smuggling was discussed at the recent G8 ministerial meeting in Sheffield on 1517 June. Ministers considered progress with existing G8 initiatives which impact on trafficking, including tackling document fraud, information sharing and co-operation through Interpol.

Cigarette/Alcohol Sales

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are in place to prevent the sale of (a) cigarettes and (b) alcohol to underage consumers, with particular reference to enforcement; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The sale of tobacco to children under 16 is prohibited by the Children and Young People (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1933 and the law is enforced by Trading Standards Officers. The sale of alcohol to people under the age of 18 is regulated by the Licensing Act 1964 (to be replaced by Licensing Act 2003 from November 2005), and the law is enforced by Trading Standards Officers and the Police.
	In the Choosing Health White Paper, the Government set out proposals for new powers to ban retailers from selling tobacco products, on a temporary or permanent basis, if they repeatedly flout the law. The Violent Crime Reduction Bill includes proposals for a new power for the Police and Trading Standards Officers to ban the sale of alcohol at licensed premises for up to 48 hours if they persistently sell to under-18s.

City of London Police

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in the City of London Police in each year since 1994; and what projections there are for numbers of officers in the next 10 years.

Hazel Blears: The table sets out police officer and police (support) staff strength for the 10 years to September 2004. The Home Office does not collect projections of police officer strength. It is for the Commissioner of the City of London Police to determine the number of officers, subject to the budget agreed by the City of London Corporation.
	
		City of London PoliceStrength March 1994 to September 2004
		
			 Year (as at 31 March) Police Office Numbers Police (Support) Staff 
		
		
			 1994 893 332 
			 1995 885 345 
			 1996 870 324 
			 1997 859 347 
			 1998 825 334 
			 1999 778 314 
			 2000 732 285 
			 2001 703 233 
			 2002 764 247 
			 2003 808 268 
			 2004 853 291 
			 2004 (30 Sept) 875 284 
		
	
	Note:
	All figures are full-time equivalents

Clear-up Rates

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average clear-up rate for (a) murder, (b) assault and (c) burglary in (i) England and (ii) Wales has been in each year since 2001.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is given in the table.
	
		Detection rates for recorded crime in England -- Percentage of offences detected1, 2
		
			 Year Murder Common assault(71) Burglary 
		
		
			 2001/02 83 79 20 
			 2002/03 89 66 20 
			 2003/04 92 64 20 
		
	
	(69)Changes in detection rates may have been influenced by ongoing effects of audits of the National Crime Recording Standard.
	(70)Offences detected in the current year may have been initially recorded in an earlier year and for this reason some percentages may exceed 100.
	(71)Includes offences of common assault and racially aggravated common assault.
	
		Detection rates for recorded crime in Wales -- Percentage of offences detected1, 2
		
			 Year Murder Common assault(74) Burglary 
		
		
			 2001/02 120 44 11 
			 2002/03 91 40 12 
			 2003/04 120 37 12 
		
	
	(72)Changes in detection rates may have been influenced by ongoing effects of audits of the National Crime Recording Standard.
	(73)Offences detected in the current year may have been initially recorded in an earlier year and for this reason some percentages may exceed 100.
	(74)Includes racially aggravated common assault.

Community Support Officers

Patrick McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police community support officers there are, broken down by police force area; and what the expected number in each area will be when the expansion in numbers is complete.

Hazel Blears: Figures provided by police forces indicate that there were around 6,300 community support officers (CSO)s in England and Wales at 31March 2005. Audited figures, including a breakdown of CSO numbers by police force area, will be included in the next police strength statistical bulletin to be published later this month. The Neighbourhood Policing Fund (NPF) will provide significant additional resource to help forces recruit 24,000 CSOs by 2008. This investment will help deliver our commitment that every community will have access to a dedicated neighbourhood policing team by 2008. We will announce later in the year the funding allocated to each police authority under the NPF.

Convention Against Trafficking

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government intends to sign and ratify the Council of Europe Convention Against Trafficking.

Paul Goggins: The UK has not yet taken the decision on whether or not to sign the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings and has no timetable for adoption at present. There are certain provisions in the Convention which present concerns for the UK and which remain under active consideration. We want to resolve these issues before taking a decision on signature. We support fully all of the aims of the Convention and we too want to see widespread action to tackle this abhorrent trade at source, to protect and support the victims and bring those responsible to justice.
	We will be gathering evidence about how the Convention measures are operating in other European transit or destination countries where they have been introduced. We also want to work with non-Government organisations (NGOs) and others working in the field of human trafficking to ensure that we explore thoroughly with them the potential benefits and disadvantages of the approach set out in the Convention.
	During the UK's Presidency of the EU the Government intends to treat combating trafficking in human beings as one of its Justice and Home Affairs priorities. We are committed to agreeing a wide-ranging EU action plan before the end of 2005 and will jointly host with Eurojust a conference focusing on investigating and prosecuting traffickers. We are considering other ways of highlighting this issue during our Presidencies of the G8 and EU, both at Ministerial and official levels.
	The Government is committed to tackling trafficking in human beings, domestically and internationally, and is determined that the measures we take bring the criminals responsible for it to justice, protect the victims of trafficking, but do not undermine our ability to control our borders.

Correspondence

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ask Mr Ken Sutton to inform him when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Sunderland, South of 13th May regarding Mr Mahdi Hosseini, reference M1077781.

Tony McNulty: Mr Ken Sutton replied on 4 July 2005.

Crack Houses

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crack houses in Lancashire have been closed in the last five years.

Hazel Blears: No information is held for the full period in question but Lancashire Constabulary has used powers under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 to close down 25 premises since commencement of the Act on 20 January 2004.

Crime

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were committed in each London borough in (a) 1997 and (b) 2004, listed in descending order of number of crimes.

Hazel Blears: Data for all recorded crime in 200304 by Basic Command Unit (BCD) are provided in the table. Figures for all crime at BCU level were not collected centrally prior to 200102.
	
		Number of recorded offences in London -- Basic Command Units (BCUs), 200304
		
			 Basic Command Unit Number of offences 
		
		
			 City of Westminster 79,296 
			 Camden 51,016 
			 Lambeth 49,937 
			 Southwark 46,276 
			 Islington 40,816 
			 Newham 40,615 
			 Tower Hamlets 39,188 
			 Hackney 39,035 
			 Ealing 37,927 
			 Croydon 37,043 
			 Haringey 36,807 
			 Barnet 36,288 
			 Brent 35,837 
			 Wandsworth 33,567 
			 Lewisham 31,577 
			 Greenwich 31,347 
			 Bromley 30,918 
			 Waltham Forest 30,912 
			 Hounslow 30,416 
			 Enfield 29,998 
			 Kensington  Chelsea 29,873 
			 Hillingdon 39,349 
			 Hammersmith  Fulham 28,650 
			 Redbridge 28,438 
			 Havering 22165 
			 Barking  Dagenham 22,144 
			 Bexley 20,344 
			 Merton 18,378 
			 Harrow 18,430 
			 Kingston upon Thames 16,309 
			 Sutton 16,154 
			 Richmond upon Thames 15,446 
			 Heathrow 6,071 
			 Bishopsgate * 5,200 
			 Snowhill* 4,050 
			 Total 1,070,177 
		
	
	Bishopsgate and Snowhill are City of London Police BCUs

Crime

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the most common form of crime committed by young people of school age was in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England and Wales in the latest year for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: Statistics on the age of persons committing crimes are not available from the recorded crime series.

Crime

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people of school age have been the victims of crime in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England and Wales, in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally. Apart from specific sexual offences, it is not possible to identify the age of the victim in the recorded crime statistics.

Crime

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many areas have been designated under section 30 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 in (a) each London borough, (b) England and (c) England and Wales in the past 12months.

Hazel Blears: It is estimated that dispersal powers have been authorised in over 400 areas in England and Wales between January 2004, when the powers came into force and September 2004. The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police tells me that, between January and December 2004, the Metropolitan Police authorised 63 dispersal areas under section 30 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003. A breakdown by London borough is shown in the following table.
	
		London boroughs: Dispersal areasJanuary to December 2005
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Barnet 1 
			 Brent 2 
			 Bromley 6 
			 Camden 2 
			 Croydon 4 
			 Dagenham 2 
			 Ealing 5 
			 Enfield 4 
			 Greenwich 1 
			 Hackney 1 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 3 
			 Haringey 1 
			 Hillingdon 5 
			 Hounslow 3 
			 Islington 4 
			 Lambeth 2 
			 Lewisham 1 
			 Merton 2 
			 Newham 1 
			 Redbridge 2 
			 Richmond 3 
			 Romford 1 
			 Tower Hamlets 2 
			 Waltham Forest 1 
			 Wandsworth 1 
			 Westminster 3 
			 Total 63

Criminal Assets

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much each police force retained from the recovery of proceeds of crime in the last year for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: The amount of money each police force will receive from 13 million available under the police incentivisation scheme in 200405 is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Police force Police force share of 13 million () 
		
		
			 Metropolitan Police Service 4,027,855.00 
			 National Crime Squad 1,819,909.00 
			 Lancashire Constabulary 570,517.00 
			 Greater Manchester Police 526,360.00 
			 Merseyside Police 443,335.00 
			 Cambridgeshire Constabulary 410,828.00 
			 Derbyshire Constabulary 387,207.00 
			 West Yorkshire Police 345,293.00 
			 City of London Police 337,011.00 
			 West Midlands Police 312,977.00 
			 Avon and Somerset Constabulary 298,726.00 
			 Kent Police 293,697.00 
			 Police Service of Northern Ireland 269,639.00 
			 Nottinghamshire Police 203,722.00 
			 South Yorkshire Police 202,726.00 
			 Devon and Cornwall Constabulary 180,291.00 
			 Cumbria Constabulary 171,340.00 
			 Northamptonshire Police 162,082.00 
			 Dorset Police 160,098.00 
			 Sussex Police 152,749.00 
			 West Mercia Constabulary 152,335.00 
			 Norfolk Constabulary 138,984.00 
			 Northumbria Police 138,645.00 
			 Leicestershire Constabulary 135,893.00 
			 Thames Valley Police 114,413.00 
			 Surrey Police 98,910.00 
			 Cheshire Constabulary 82,542.00 
			 Wiltshire Constabulary 73,550.00 
			 Durham Constabulary 72,764.00 
			 Gwent Police 67,471.00 
			 Hertfordshire Constabulary 67,117.00 
			 Suffolk Constabulary 65,648.00 
			 South Wales Police 61,055.00 
			 Gloucestershire Constabulary 59,514.00 
			 Hampshire Constabulary 50,876.00 
			 Lincolnshire Police 46,931.00 
			 British Transport Police 42,886.00 
			 Staffordshire Police 39,690.00 
			 Humberside Police 38,966.00 
			 Cleveland Police 35,089.00 
			 North Yorkshire Police 31,258.00 
			 Dyfed-Powys Police 30,645.00 
			 Essex Police 29,387.00 
			 Bedfordshire Police 23,598.00 
			 North Wales Police 16,729.00 
			 Warwickshire Police 8,742.00 
			 Total available for incentive payments 13,000,000.00

Criminal Assets

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice and support his Department has given to police forces that have underperformed in recovering the proceeds of crime.

Hazel Blears: The then Home Secretary wrote to all Chief Constables last November following publication of the Joint Criminal Justice Inspectorates' Thematic report on the implementation of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA). His letter encouraged forces to adopt the report's recommendations on improving performance on asset recovery. I am pleased to say that a number of the recommendations have been implemented. In particular, a senior officer has been appointed as POCA champion in all forces. Local Criminal Justice Boards have been set asset recovery targets for 200506, agreed with the Association of Chief Police Officers and others, as part of the drive to improve performance at local level.
	Last month we issued to police forces and others a new National Best Practice Guide to the enforcement of confiscation orders. It covers the criminal confiscation process from financial investigation and prosecution to the making and enforcing of a confiscation order.
	I have recently written to all Chief Constables notifying them of their force's share of recovered receipts under the police asset recovery incentive scheme. I encouraged them to make maximum use of POCA powers to recover more criminal assets so that each force gets back more in incentive payments, and to invest the money in financial investigation which is the gateway to asset recovery. We have also introduced an assessment incorporating asset recovery targets which will compare force performance. These new measures and the additional incentive funding will help encourage Chief Constables to make asset recovery an integral part of criminal investigation.
	In addition , the Association of Chief Police Officers has issued guidance to all forces on improving performance on asset recovery.

Criminal Assets

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of reasons for difference in performance of police forces in recovering the proceeds of crime.

Hazel Blears: The difference in performance of police forces in the recovery of the proceeds of crime is largely attributable to the use made by each force of the powers in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to seize and confiscate criminal assets. The Joint Criminal Justice Inspectorates' Thematic report on the implementation of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 published last November made a number of recommendations for improving police force performance in this area of work. The report acknowledged the effectiveness of the new powers when they are actually used but concluded that asset recovery is not yet a mainstream enforcement tool for police forces. I am pleased to say that a number of the report's recommendations have been implemented, and we are encouraging forces to make financial investigation and asset recovery an integral part of criminal investigation.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many judicial review actions against the Criminal Cases Review Commission have been resolved without a final decision in court.

Fiona Mactaggart: There have been 104 judicial review actions against the Commission which have been resolved without a final decision in court. These include cases where there has been a pre-action protocol letter but no further proceedings were taken once the Commission replied, where the applicant has withdrawn the application, where leave has been refused by a single judge, and where leave has been refused by the full court on oral renewal.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many judicial reviews against the Criminal Cases Review Commission have been upheld by the court.

Fiona Mactaggart: There have been two judicial reviews against the Commission which have been upheld in court.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of cases referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, result in acquittal.

Fiona Mactaggart: At 31 May 2005 the Commission had referred 274 cases to the appeal courts. Of these, 223 had been heard. Appeals were allowed in 155 cases, dismissed in 65 cases, and judgment had been reserved in the remaining three. That was 70 per cent. allowed and 30 per cent. dismissed.

Criminal Justice Act 1988

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions under section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 have taken place in each of the last five years; and what proportion of defendants convicted under this section were given custodial sentences.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 16 June 2005
	The information contained in the table gives the number of defendants proceeded against at the magistrates courts and found guilty and sentenced at all courts for offences under the Criminal Justice Act 1988, Sec 139, England and Wales 1999 to 2003. Statistics on court proceedings for 2004 will be published in the autumn.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty and sentenced to immediate custody at all courts under Criminal Justice Act 1988, Sec 139(75), England and Wales 1999 to 2003
		
			 Offence description Statute Year Proceeded against Found guilty Sentenced Immediate custody Percentage sentenced to immediate custody 
		
		
			 Having an article with blade or Criminal Justice Act 1988, Sec 139 1999 4,549 3,532 3,548 534 15 
			 point in public place as amended by Offensive 2000 4,616 3,511 3,518 499 14 
			  Weapons Act 1996, Sec 3 2001 5,752 4,299 4,303 589 14 
			   2002 6,889 5,281 5,269 766 15 
			   2003 6,839 5,308 5,311 755 14 
			 
			 Having an article with blade or Criminal Justice Act 1988, Sec 1999 10 9 9 1 (11) 
			 point on school premises(76) 139A(1)(5)(a) added by Offensive 2000 19 17 17 3 (18) 
			  Weapons Act 1996, Sec 4(1) 2001 25 23 23 1 (4) 
			   2002 22 19 19 1 (5) 
			   2003 25 29 29 3 (10) 
			 
			 Possession of offensive weapons Criminal Justice Act 1988, Sec 1999 18 20 20 3 (15) 
			 without lawful authority or 139A(2)(5)(b) added by Offensive 2000 13 11 18 6 (33) 
			 reasonable excuse on school Weapons Act 1996, Sec 4(1) 2001 18 18 19 3 (16) 
			 premises  2002 21 17 21 5 (24) 
			   2003 20 14 21 4 (19) 
			 
			  Total 1999 4,577 3,561 3,577 538 15 
			   2000 4,648 3,539 3,553 508 14 
			   2001 5,795 4,340 4,345 593 14 
			   2002 6,932 5,317 5,309 772 15 
			   2003 6,884 5,351 5,361 762 14 
		
	
	(75)These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(76)Data excludes prosecutions and convictions for West Mercia PFA, until clarification of these cases is obtained.
	Note:
	Figures in brackets are based on totals of less than 100.

Deepcut Barracks

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Devon and Cornwall constabulary to conclude its investigation into the inquiry by Surrey Police into the four deaths at the Deepcut army barracks between 1995 and 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Inquiry Team had hoped to complete the report by June of this year. However, that deadline is likely to be extended by a few months. It will be discussing with Surrey Police and the IPCC recent disclosures from the Army and once those discussions have been concluded it will be better placed to give a final date for completion.

Dispersal Orders

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of dispersal orders; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 20 June 2005, Official Report, column 754W.

Drink-driving

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2005, Official Report, column 755W, on drink-driving, how many (a) arrests and (b) convictions for drink-driving resulted in custodial sentences in each of the last 10 years, broken down by police authority.

Hazel Blears: The information requested on arrests is not collected centrally.
	Information taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database on convictions and custodial sentences for drink-driving offences by police force area 1997 to 2003 (latest available) is given in the table. Data for 2004 will be available early in 2006.
	
		Findings of guilt and immediate custodial sentences at all courts for offences of driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugsby police force area, England and Wales 19972003 -- Number of offences
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 
			 Police force area Findings of guilt Immediate custody(77) Findings of guilt Immediate custody(77) Findings of guilt Immediate custody(77) Findings of guilt Immediate custody(77) 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 2,812 163 2,566 157 2,728 165 2,462 152 
			 Bedfordshire 1,146 119 1,060 96 869 87 797 89 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,092 56 1,060 62 941 43 793 41 
			 Cheshire 1,969 97 1,903 119 1,827 133 1,652 122 
			 Cleveland 926 61 870 63 811 57 777 56 
			 Cumbria 931 49 856 51 871 37 806 50 
			 Derbyshire 1,612 147 1,547 202 1,463 181 1,417 126 
			 Devon and Cornwall 2,342 91 2,265 127 2,277 112 2,199 104 
			 Dorset 1,214 93 1,186 88 1,120 96 1,115 84 
			 Durham 1,044 66 1,035 53 1,137 81 1,124 76 
			 Essex 2,736 228 2,438 233 2,528 261 2,462 237 
			 Gloucestershire 1,067 48 985 36 889 51 804 37 
			 Greater Manchester 4,806 440 4,715 453 4,850 464 4,801 428 
			 Hampshire 3,774 243 3,597 231 3,725 213 3,472 244 
			 Hertfordshire 1,670 90 1,672 91 1,679 90 1,552 98 
			 Humberside 1,274 76 1,358 87 1,323 97 1,371 128 
			 Kent 2,321 97 2,627 155 2,633 133 2,592 134 
			 Lancashire 3,389 224 2,945 178 3,010 184 2,584 163 
			 Leicestershire 1,648 183 1,485 140 1,624 188 1,531 152 
			 Lincolnshire 1,088 47 979 36 941 44 816 48 
			 London, City of 436 8 301 9 236 5 162 4 
			 Merseyside 2,719 304 2,451 326 2,137 296 2,128 286 
			 Met Police 16,165 1,270 13,889 1,050 12,414 838 11,801 891 
			 Norfolk 1,116 49 1,118 43 1,010 64 935 45 
			 Northamptonshire 1,107 109 1,062 73 1,058 91 782 90 
			 Northumbria 2,625 184 2,457 194 2,463 229 2,621 215 
			 North Yorkshire 1,365 77 1,205 77 1,124 60 1,073 67 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,031 255 1,804 247 1,802 262 1,722 210 
			 South Yorkshire 2,296 204 2,002 178 1,927 149 2,122 170 
			 Staffordshire(78) 2,036 132 1,955 140 1,711 143 n/a n/a 
			 Suffolk 1,050 53 1,042 60 1,089 71 902 74 
			 Surrey 1,380 64 1,328 58 1,417 47 1,539 61 
			 Sussex 2,373 110 2,113 113 2,224 120 2,112 136 
			 Thames Valley 4,070 215 3,896 195 3,725 216 3,496 212 
			 Warwickshire 837 44 784 53 856 38 786 42 
			 West Mercia 1,947 87 1,794 97 1,747 114 1,631 101 
			 West Midlands 6,351 598 5,582 532 4,775 532 4,559 451 
			 West Yorkshire 3,953 394 3,669 329 3,597 358 3,375 287 
			 Wiltshire 1,043 27 1,108 39 1,009 45 930 28 
			 England 93,761 6,802 86,709 6,471 83,567 6,395 79,671 6,076 
			  
			 Dyfed Powys 1,029 44 995 38 944 48 858 45 
			 Gwent 1,166 61 1,203 84 1,079 78 1,211 99 
			 North Wales 1,354 96 1,306 95 1,248 94 1,332 92 
			 South Wales 2,892 257 2,903 239 2,526 282 2,757 255 
			 Wales 6,441 458 6,407 456 5,797 502 6,158 491 
			  
			 England and Wales 100,202 7,260 93,116 6,927 89,364 6,897 85,829 6,567 
		
	
	
		Number of offences
		
			  2001 2002 2003 
			 Police force area Findings of guilt Immediate custody(77) Findings of guilt Immediate custody(77) Findings of guilt Immediate custody(77) 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 2,197 129 2,401 124 2,666 167 
			 Bedfordshire 914 79 955 82 1,072 72 
			 Cambridgeshire 813 51 852 41 933 56 
			 Cheshire 1,529 96 1,993 103 1,905 110 
			 Cleveland 887 77 921 71 981 61 
			 Cumbria 761 51 768 37 843 37 
			 Derbyshire 1,411 140 1,465 164 1,617 168 
			 Devon and Cornwall 2,369 128 2,441 95 2,667 121 
			 Dorset 1,150 91 1,199 83 1,264 73 
			 Durham 1,097 86 1,136 68 1,170 77 
			 Essex 2,456 264 2,522 267 2,622 311 
			 Gloucestershire 865 39 926 44 890 37 
			 Greater Manchester 4,715 454 4,720 474 4,743 437 
			 Hampshire 3,464 235 3,846 243 3,663 234 
			 Hertfordshire 1,666 94 1,894 90 1,904 78 
			 Humberside 1,259 126 1,395 113 1,445 150 
			 Kent 2,575 165 2,745 152 2,811 179 
			 Lancashire 2,304 148 2,599 159 2,652 146 
			 Leicestershire 1,546 140 1,659 140 1,725 143 
			 Lincolnshire 877 60 847 56 1,111 42 
			 London, City of 162 10 221 12 235 4 
			 Merseyside 2,195 217 2,293 216 2,687 215 
			 Met Police 11,260 928 12,905 927 12,621 922 
			 Norfolk 1,143 75 1,220 55 1,274 59 
			 Northamptonshire 399 65 236 35 799 65 
			 Northumbria 2,529 217 2,588 188 2,747 187 
			 North Yorkshire 1,066 55 1,119 63 1,194 51 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,598 187 1,420 129 1,644 149 
			 South Yorkshire 2,020 159 1,945 165 2,089 125 
			 Staffordshire(78) 1,513 136 1,704 143 1,733 141 
			 Suffolk 920 43 1,105 79 1,213 66 
			 Surrey 1,592 65 1,614 68 1,464 44 
			 Sussex 2,358 128 2,306 149 2,430 120 
			 Thames Valley 3,275 210 4,317 219 3,884 159 
			 Warwickshire 880 33 841 40 918 33 
			 West Mercia 1,740 91 1,719 93 1,797 100 
			 West Midlands 4,914 471 5,050 438 5,233 420 
			 West Yorkshire 3,220 331 3,564 268 3,720 260 
			 Wiltshire 1,045 53 1,005 54 1,031 62 
			 England 78,684 6,127 84,456 5,947 87,397 5,881 
			
			 Dyfed Powys 867 36 927 47 995 46 
			 Gwent 1,152 76 1,074 74 1,149 94 
			 North Wales 1,227 87 1,270 71 1,326 76 
			 South Wales 2,812 295 2,761 236 2,840 211 
			 Wales 6,058 494 6,032 428 6,310 427 
			
			 England and Wales 84,742 6,621 90,488 6,375 93,707 6,308 
		
	
	n/a = Not available.
	(77)Immediate custody includes sentences of Secure Training Order, Detention and Training Order, Young Offender Institution and Unsuspended sentence of imprisonment.
	(78)Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at detailed level and have been excluded from the table.

Driving Offences

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the responses to his consultation on proposed offences for drivers causing deaths.

Fiona Mactaggart: The consultation paper on the Review of Road Traffic Offences involving Bad Driving was published on 3 February and put forward a
	radical set of proposals to create an effective framework of offences to deal with bad driving and to help create safer roads for everyone. The consultation exercise ended on 6 May and we are currently analysing the responses received. A number of different views have been expressed and we are considering all comments very carefully. A summary and proposals for next steps will be published in due course.

Emergency Call Response Times

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average response time was to an emergency call to the police in each London borough in each year since 1997.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is not collected centrally. Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary (HMCIC) publishes statistics of the percentage of 999 calls answered within local target time. The latest available statistics relate to 200203 and 200304 and are published in Table 5 of HMCIC's Annual Report. The publication is available via the Home Office website at: http://www.official-documents.co.uk/document/deps/hc/hc171/171.pdf The equivalent figures for earlier years are available from previous annual reports, copies of which should be in the Library. These statistics are only available at police force area level and figures are not available for the London boroughs.

Employees (Assault)

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many employees in the railway industry have been the victims of offences of violence suffered in the course of their employment in each of the last 20 years.

Hazel Blears: The requested information cannot be supplied as there is no specific offence of assault on a railway industry worker defined by statute. Such incidents are recorded by the police depending on the severity of the violence used and in accordance with the relevant legislation, for example more or less serious wounding or common assault, and cannot be separately identified from recorded crime series data. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) records data relating to physical assaults on railway staff that are reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR). The most recently published information is provided in the table.
	
		Assaults reported under RIDDOR. 1997/98 to 2003/04
		
			 Year Number of assaults 
		
		
			 1997/98 335 
			 1998/99 382 
			 1999/00 379 
			 2000/01 462 
			 2001/02 352 
			 2002/03 354 
			 2003/04 263

Firearms

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal firearms have been confiscated since 1997.

Hazel Blears: Statistics are not collected centrally on the number of illegal firearms confiscated.

Firearms

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what steps the Government are taking to stop vigilante groups selling illegal firearms;
	(2)  what steps the Government are taking to tackle organised drug gangs buying illegal firearms;
	(3)  what plans the Government have to hold a further national firearms amnesty.

Hazel Blears: It is already an offence to buy, sell or possess a prohibited firearm and, on conviction, an offender can expect to receive a minimum sentence of five years. We are working closely with the Association of Chief Police Officers, the National Criminal Intelligence Service, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and other agencies to ensure that these laws are enforced.
	The legislation is being further tightened by measures in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill, which received its Second Reading on 20 June. These measures include:
	tougher manufacturing standards to prevent imitation firearms being converted to fire live ammunition;
	tougher sentences for carrying imitation firearms;
	a ban on the sale of primers without valid firearms certificates;
	a ban on the manufacture or sale of imitation firearms other than those which would not be mistaken for real firearms; and
	a new offence of using another person to hide or carry a gun or knife.
	We are also working closely with community groups to tackle gun crime, particularly among young people who may be drawn into drug and gun crime through becoming involved in a street gang.
	We have no plans at present for a further national amnesty but this is something which we will keep under review in consultation with the police.

Firearms

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) automatic weapons, (b) shot guns, (c) revolvers and (d) rifles have been confiscated in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Statistics are not collected centrally on the number of illegal firearms confiscated.

Firearms

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what plans the Government has to introduce a statutory definition of lethality in relation to the definition of a firearm as a lethal-barrelled weapon;
	(2)  if he will make one joule of muzzle energy the statutory limit to which firearms legislation applies;
	(3)  when the Government's response to the Firearms Consultation 2004 will be published.

Hazel Blears: We received around 4,500 responses to the consultation paper on firearms controls. These have all been read and analysed and we are considering how we want to proceed. A summary of responses will be published. The need for a statutory definition of lethality linked to one joule of muzzle energy will be considered in this context.

Firearms Amnesty

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firearms were handed in to the police during the last amnesty.

Hazel Blears: The last firearms amnesty was from 31 March 2002 to 30 April 2003. A total of 43,908 guns were handed in during that time. This compares to 22,939 guns during the previous amnesty in June 1996.

Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support his Department will make available to migrants under the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme who wish to apply for more permanent visa status.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 5 July 2005
	The Scottish Executive's Relocation Advisory Service will have a continuing role in supporting those migrants who wish to extend their stay beyond that granted under the scheme. The Home Office is advising participants to contact the Relocation Advisory Service.

Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will extend the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme to include students at universities overseas taking courses conducted in partnership with Scottish universities.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 5 July 2005
	Eligibility for the scheme is based on the institution which awards the qualification and not where the student starts their course or spends the majority of their time studying. All participants must have been awarded their qualification by a relevant Scottish institution and have lived in Scotland for an appropriate period during their studies but they can have spent some time studying overseas.

G8 (Scotland)

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, by county force for England and Wales, the number of police officers that will be seconded to cover the G8 conference in Scotland.

Hazel Blears: The deployment of police officers from English and Welsh police authorities is on a mutual aid basis. The arrangements relating to mutual aid between police forces in Scotland and elsewhere in the United Kingdom are contained in section 98 of the Police Act 1996.
	The chief officer in each police authority is responsible for determining the number of police personnel that can be released for G8 duties. In making that decision the chief officers will ensure that there will be no significant impact on local police services.
	
		
			  Police Authority Area Police Personnel to be deployed in Scotland 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 149 
			 Bedfordshire 66 
			 Cambridgeshire 74 
			 Cheshire 116 
			 City of London 57 
			 Cleveland 77 
			 Cumbria 64 
			 Derbyshire 132 
			 Devon and Cornwall 173 
			 Dorset 76 
			 Durham 90 
			 Dyfed Powys 62 
			 Essex 167 
			 Gloucestershire 57 
			 G.M.P 337 
			 Gwent 102 
			 Hampshire 3 
			 Hertfordshire 109 
			 Humberside 87 
			 Kent 124 
			 Lancashire 164 
			 Leicestershire 121 
			 Lincolnshire 68 
			 Merseyside 215 
			 Metropolitan 1,433 
			 Norfolk 69 
			 North Wales Police 73 
			 North Yorkshire 44 
			 Northamptonshire 41 
			 Nottinghamshire 85 
			 Northumbria 179 
			 South Wales 115 
			 South Yorkshire 197 
			 Staffordshire 109 
			 Suffolk 66 
			 Surrey 91 
			 Sussex 160 
			 Thames Valley 168 
			 Warwickshire 45 
			 West Mercia 122 
			 West Midlands 317 
			 West Yorkshire 360 
			 Wiltshire 66 
			 Total 6,430

G8 (Scotland)

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers from (a) England and Wales and (b) Surrey he expects will provide support at the G8 Summit at Gleneagles; and what plans have been made to cover police duties where police officers are seconded to the G8 summit.

Hazel Blears: The deployment of police officers from English and Welsh police authorities is on a mutual aid basis. The arrangements relating to mutual aid between police forces in Scotland and elsewhere in the United Kingdom are contained in section 98 of the Police Act 1996.
	The chief officer in each police authority is responsible for determining the number of police personnel that can be released for G8 duties. In making that decision the chief officers will ensure that there will be no significant impact on local police services.
	
		
			 Police Authority Area Police Personnel to be deployed in Scotland 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 149 
			 Bedfordshire 66 
			 Cambridgeshire 74 
			 Cheshire 116 
			 City of London 57 
			 Cleveland 77 
			 Cumbria 64 
			 Derbyshire 132 
			 Devon and Cornwall 173 
			 Dorset 76 
			 Durham 90 
			 Dyfed Powys 62 
			 Essex 167 
			 Gloucestershire 57 
			 G.M.P 337 
			 Gwent 102 
			 Hampshire 3 
			 Hertfordshire 109 
			 Humberside 87 
			 Kent 124 
			 Lancashire 164 
			 Leicestershire 121 
			 Lincolnshire 68 
			 Merseyside 215 
			 Metropolitan 1,433 
			 Norfolk 69 
			 North Wales Police 73 
			 North Yorkshire 44 
			 Northamptonshire 41 
			 Nottinghamshire 85 
			 Northumbria 179 
			 South Wales 115 
			 South Yorkshire 197 
			 Staffordshire 109 
			 Suffolk 66 
			 Surrey 91 
			 Sussex 160 
			 Thames Valley 168 
			 Warwickshire 45 
			 West Mercia 122 
			 West Midlands 317 
			 West Yorkshire 360 
			 Wiltshire 66 
			 Total 6,430

Gating Orders

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to lay an order before Parliament implementing section 2 gating orders under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office are currently drafting the regulations required under Section two of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. Before this section is commenced, relevant agencies will be given an opportunity to comment on the content of the draft regulations. Following the completion of the regulations, this provision will be commenced at the earliest opportunity.

Gun Crime

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths were caused by gun crime in each London borough in each of the last five years.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally. Statistics on deaths caused by firearms is only available at police force area level.

Gun Crime

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Operation Trident; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Operation Trident, established London-wide in 1999, has had a significant effect in reducing gun-enabled crime in London. In the 12 months to May 2005, there was a 6 per cent. reduction in such crimes in the Metropolitan Police Service area. Community support for Trident is a vital component of its success and has been developed via the Independent Advisory Group (IAG), which remains at the heart of Trident strategy. We encourage the development of similar IAGs in other areas as a model of good practice in community engagement.

Human Trafficking (Ministerial Meeting)

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the outcome of the inter-ministerial meeting on human trafficking which took place in February; and when he expects the next meeting to take place.

Paul Goggins: At the inter-ministerial meeting on trafficking in February Ministers considered a wide range of issues. These included the legislative framework on trafficking; support for victims, including the scope of the evaluation of the POPPY Scheme; and plans for the UK presidency of the EU. Ministers agreed that trafficking should be a priority for the UK presidency of the EU, and at the next meeting, which is arranged for the 7 July 2005, Ministers will consider the programme of work on trafficking which is planned for our presidency.

Identity Cards

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the US Administration regarding its plans to include radio frequency identification chips in its requirements for passports and identity cards for foreign nationals visiting the US.

Andy Burnham: The UK Passport Service has had regular technical discussions at senior official level with the US State Department on biometric passports and the incorporation of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chips into these passports. Both countries will be observing the International Civil Aviation Standards for the use of RFID chips in travel documents. The US Government in their recent announcement extending the Visa Waiver deadline to October 2006 indicated that they would be holding several technical conferences later this year to ensure workable technical standards for biometric passports. The UK Passport service will be represented at these conferences. There have been no discussions with the US Administration on radio frequency chips in Identity Cards.

Identity Cards

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the latest estimate is of costs of (a) processing applications and enrolment, (b) producing cards, (c) database design, (d) producing identification numbers, (e) application checks, (f) updating the register and (g) operating costs for theidentity card scheme in the starting and operating phases under the different scenarios of a voluntary andcompulsory card, indicating expected margins of error.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 7 July 2005
	The latest cost estimates were published in the Regulatory Impact Assessment which was published on 25 May 2005 alongside the Identity Cards Bill. The current best estimate is that the total average running costs for issuing passports and ID cards to UK nationals is estimated at 584 million. This includes the costs of processing applications and enrolments, producing cards, producing identification numbers, application checks, updating the Register and operating costs. It does not include the cost of database design which is a resource set up cost. It would not be appropriate to disclose either the breakdown of the current best estimate of running costs or any set up costs at this stage, as this would hinder the Department's ability to obtain value for money in the forthcoming procurement process.
	A large part of the costs cover the issuing of ID cards alongside passports and voluntary applications for ID cards. Estimating the costs of issuing cards on a compulsory basis would depend on the timing of the move to compulsion and the nature of any compulsion order approved by Parliament. It is therefore not possible to provide such a scenario.

Identity Cards

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate (a) the revenue from the expected fees from cardholders, (b) the revenue from fees charged for data access, (c) financial support from the Home Office budget and (d) additional support from the Treasury for the identity card scheme, indicating margins of error and distinguishing set up and operating stages of the project.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 4 July 2005
	The latest cost estimates were published in the Regulatory Impact Assessment which was published on 25 May 2005 alongside the Identity Cards Bill. The current best estimate is that the total average running costs for issuing passports and ID cards to UK nationals is estimated at 584 million. It would not be appropriate at this stage to disclose details of the estimate of the balance of funding which will come from the different types of fee which may be set under the powers in clause 37 of the Bill. Disclosing this information would hinder the Department's ability to obtain value for money in the forthcoming procurement process.

Identity Cards

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) revised global figure and (b) estimated margin of error is for the cost of the identity card scheme under the different scenarios of a voluntary and compulsory card distinguishing between (i) start-up and (ii) continuing costs.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 4 July 2005
	The latest cost estimates were published in the Regulatory Impact Assessment which was published on 25 May 2005 alongside the Identity Cards Bill. It would not be appropriate at this time to publish an estimate of set-up costs as this may hinder the Department's ability to obtain value for money in the forthcoming procurement phase.
	The current best estimate for the total average annual running costs for issuing passports and ID cards to UK nationals is estimated at 584 million. This estimate does include appropriate allowances for the running cost impact of some set-up costs, for example the cost of capital. As for the margin of error the estimates of both set-up costs and running costs include allowances for contingency and optimism bias. It would not be appropriate to disaggregate the running cost estimate at this stage for the same reason as it would not be appropriate to publish the set-up cost estimate.
	A large part of the running costs cover the issuing of ID cards alongside passports and voluntary applications for ID cards. Estimating the costs of issuing cards on a compulsory basis would depend on the timing of the move to compulsion and the nature of any compulsion order approved by Parliament. It is therefore not possible to provide such a scenario.

Illegal Alcohol Sales

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total amount of fines imposed on those convicted of selling alcohol to minors was in (a) 1984, (b) 1997 and (c) 2004.

Hazel Blears: The total amount of fines imposed on those convicted of selling alcohol to minors is as follows: 1984, 4,950 and for 1997, 25,381. The data for 2004 is expected to be available towards the end of the year.

Illegal Alcohol Sales

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many prosecutions there have been in (a) Essex and (b) Southend under the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985 in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many prosecutions there have been under the (a) Cigarette Lighter Refill (Safety) Regulations 1999 and (b) Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985 in each year since 1997.

Paul Goggins: The information contained in the table gives the number of defendants proceeded against under the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985, England and Wales 1997 to 2003. There were no prosecutions as notified to the Home Office Court Proceedings database in the Essex police force area or South-East Essex petty sessional area.
	Information collected centrally by the Home Office does not separately identify offences under the Cigarette Lighter Refill (Safety) Regulations 1999.
	Statistics on court proceedings for 2004 will be published in the autumn.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts under the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985(79),England and Wales 1997 to 2003
		
			  Proceeded against 
		
		
			 1997 11 
			 1998 4 
			 1999 9 
			 2000  
			 2001 1 
			 2002  
			 2003 2 
		
	
	(79)These data are on the principal offence basis.

Jamaican Gangs

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate has been made of the number of Jamaican criminal gangs operating in the UK; what discussions have taken place with the Jamaican authorities regarding this matter; and what steps are being taken to tackle crimes perpetrated by such gangs.

Hazel Blears: There are no official estimates of the number of organised crime groups, by nationality or other categorisation, operating in the UK. The varying degrees of cohesiveness and difficulty in establishing nationality makes such estimates impractical.
	The Government are in close and regular contact with Jamaican authorities about criminal activities which have implications for our two countries. We have provided assistance to the Government of Jamaica's Operation Kingfish which was launched last October and is targeting criminals on the island some of whom have UK connections. In addition there are UK liaison officers in Kingston providing links between the relevant law enforcement authorities of the two countries. Operation Airbridge which started in June 2002 has been very successful in reducing the number of cocaine couriers travelling by air from Jamaica to the UK.
	Some forces such as the Metropolitan Police Service and Avon and Somerset Constabulary have set up operations (Trident and Atrium) which deal with particular crime difficulties in their areas in which there are links to Jamaican nationals or persons of Jamaican origin.

London Probation Service

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) budget and (b) expenditure of the London Probation Service was in each year since 1995; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The budget for the London Probation Service from 1995 is set out in the attached table and gives information relating to the London Probation Service prior to the establishment of the London Probation Board on one April 2001. Prior to 2001, the Home Office did not collect this information. Both the budget and expenditure for 200102 onwards are as set out in the table.
	
		Budgetary Information for London Probation Service 19942005
		
			 Financial Year Budget m Expenditure m 
		
		
			 1994/95 72.0  
			 1995/96 72.1  
			 1996/97 78.9  
			 1997/98 77.8  
			 1998/99 77.1  
			 1999/2000 80.4  
			 2001/02 97.3 100.3 
			 2002/03 106.6 107.8 
			 2003/04 110.4 112.1 
			 2004/05 107.1  
			 2005/06 121.7

Metropolitan Police (Compensation Payments)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid in compensation by the Metropolitan Police Authority in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis is responsible for the operational management of, and allocation of funding by, the force. I will ensure that he receives a copy of the question and replies to the hon. Lady directly in response to her concerns.

Mr. Thomas Maguire

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the enhanced disclosure application for Mr Thomas Maguire will be completed.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 30 June 2005
	The Enhanced Disclosure for Mr Thomas Maguire was issued on 29June.

North Wales Police Authority

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the employment status of Mr Peter Bolton, Assistant Clerk to the North Wales Police Authority.

Hazel Blears: Mr Bolton remains an employee of the North Wales Police Authority.

Offensive Weapons

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department has given on the standard of evidence that would be required to initiate a prosecution for an offence of using another person to hide or carry a gun or a knife; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Code for Crown Prosecutors provides for a two stage test before a criminal prosecution can be commenced. A case must firstly pass the evidential test. This requires that a crown prosecutor (or police officer) must be satisfied that there is enough evidence to provide a realistic prospect of a conviction. This is an objective test and means that a jury, or bench of magistrates or judge hearing a case alone, and properly directed in accordance with the law, is more likely than not to convict the defendant of the charge alleged.
	If the case passes the evidential test, crown prosecutors or (police officers) must decide if a prosecution is in the public interest. It would be very unusual indeed for there not to be a strong public interest in prosecuting a case involving firearms or weapons.

Passports

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate his Department has made of (a) the number of fraudulent applications for passports and (b) the number detected in each of the last five years.

Andy Burnham: It is widely recognised that the very nature of identity fraud makes it difficult to be precise when estimating the scale of the problem in terms of the number of fraudulent passport applications. Based on the results of an exercise involving the detailed scrutiny of some 10,000 passport applications, extrapolated across a whole year, the UK Passport Service (UKPS) estimate that the level of fraud may run at around 0.18 per cent. of applications received. Approximately half of the cases identified in this exercise involved false declarations but the individual was otherwise entitled to a passport. The remaining cases featured identity fraud.
	With around 6.5 million passports applications per year this suggests the possibility of around 11,700 fraudulent applications per year. Of these, half, around 5,850, might involve identity fraud with a similar number of cases in which deception has been practised but the individual would otherwise be entitled to a passport.
	This exercise was run during a peak period of passport demand and represented a snap shot of the possible level of fraud at one particular time of year. UKPS is currently developing a more flexible and robust system for estimating the level of fraud which will take account of the seasonally of passport demand and other variables.
	As regards the number of fraudulent applications detected, UKPS has recently introduced a new and comprehensive fraud casework and management information system. This system was rolled out and operational in all Passport Offices by the beginning of March 2005. It is now used for the progression of cases of suspected fraud and the collection, collation and analysis of information relating to passport fraud. Prior to the introduction of this system information relating to frauds detected was collated through manual processes. The figures which are available for the last five years are derived from those manual processes and are given as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 20002001 1,484 
			 20012002 2,419 
			 20022003 1,973 
			 20032004 (80)2,651 
			 20042005 1,497 
		
	
	(80)Figure incorporates cases from major investigations not previously published
	UKPS is committed to strengthening its fraud detection capability while maintaining an excellent standard of service to the public. As set out in the UKPS, Corporate and Business Plan for 20052010, the Agency is engaged in a range of initiatives to improve identity authentication and to increase its effectiveness in preventing and detecting fraud. These initiatives include:
	Strengthening identity authentication arrangements through access to public/private databases, and the interviewing of all first-time applicants from October 2006.
	Developing the use of Omnibase, which provides secure access to passport information to other Government Departments to detect and prevent fraudulent applications and abuse of issued passports;
	Continued strengthening of staff capability to fight fraud through professional development, improved training, and better systems, and equipment;
	Piloting the use of facial recognition technology in the passport application process to complement existing automatic checks.

Passports

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate his Department has made of the number of (a) lost, (b) stolen and (c) unavailable passports in circulation in the UK in each of the last five years.

Andy Burnham: The UK Passport Service is not in a position to provide information on the number of lost, stolen and unavailable passports in circulation in the last five years. The UK Passport Service can provide information on the number of passports reported lost, stolen and unavailable in those years, and this is shown in the following table. In December 2003 new more comprehensive arrangements for the reporting and recording of lost, stolen, and recovered passports were introduced. Prior to then information was not routinely collected.
	
		UK passports lost, stolen and unavailable
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2000 125,073 
			 2001 148,230 
			 2002 166,358 
			 2003 221,445 
			 2004 238,216 
		
	
	Since 2000, 53,685 passports have been reported as found.

Passports

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many claims for lost passports the Passport Agency has received in each of the last five years.

Andy Burnham: The UKPS does not routinely collect specific information on compensation claims for lost passports, where losses are due to failures by the UKPS and its contractors. The UKPS does keep information on passports lost to en route to customers. These figures are shown in the table.
	
		Passport lost en route to customers
		
			 Year Passport lost 
		
		
			 2000 3,851 
			 2001 2,541 
			 2002 2,982 
			 2003 3,593 
			 Feb 200431 March 2005 683 
		
	
	The Royal Mail delivered passports until February 2004 when Special Mail Services commenced the secure delivery of passports.

Passports

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 167W, on passports, if he will waive the fee for nationality payable by those born in the Republic of Ireland and now residing in Northern Ireland before they may obtain a British passport.

Andy Burnham: To qualify for a British Passport, citizens of the Republic of Ireland now living in Northern Ireland, who do not have a claim to British subject status through birth prior to 1949, must apply to naturalise. The British Nationality Act 1981 requires that a certificate of naturalisation shall not be granted unless the fee payable has been paid. There is no discretion to waive the fee.

People Trafficking

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to raise people trafficking with his EU counterparts during the UK presidency.

Paul Goggins: We have made human trafficking a priority for the UK presidency of the EU. We are in the process of planning agendas and discussion papers for both formal and informal ministerial meetings and other ministerial discussions. We are looking at the options for a high level discussion on trafficking. Tackling trafficking was discussed at the recent G8 ministerial meeting in Sheffield on 1517 June.
	In addition, the Hague Programme commits the EU Commission and EU Council to drawing up an action plan on trafficking, and we are currently discussing with the Commission and EU partners the best way to focus discussion on this during our presidency at a working level. We want to deliver an action plan which is evidence-based, action-orientated, takes an end-to-end approach and provides a basis for positive action against trafficking.
	We are committed to improving operational co-operation and will hold a joint seminar with Eurojust in October on organised immigration crime which will open a dialogue with EU partners on the investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases. Council working groups will also be considering a range of relevant initiatives.

Police

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government is taking to tackle institutional racism in the Metropolitan Police.

Hazel Blears: The Government is working with the Metropolitan Police Service, (MPS) and with all other forces, to eliminate racism from policing.
	The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, places a positive duty on all public authorities, including the MPS, to promote race equality. In the MPS this duty is driven by its Race Equality Scheme, which was republished on 31 May 2005. Training, procurement activities and access to information and services are also included within the Race Equality Scheme. All corporate policies have been assessed for their impact on diverse groups and are published together with arrangements for ongoing monitoring, consultation and review.
	In addition, the MPS was one of the first forces to adopt the new national assessment procedures for police recruitment. The assessment centre tests candidates' attitudes to race and diversity. Those who do not score sufficiently highly are not offered a job  irrespective of how well they do in the rest of the selection process. I understand that the MPS has also produced guidance for potential recruits and training school staff on appropriate behaviour, tolerance, respect and politeness. This puts a responsibility on new recruits and training school staff to eliminate and not tolerate racist behaviour.
	In December 2003, the Metropolitan Police Authority commissioned Sir Bill Morris to review professional standards and employment matters in the Metropolitan Police Service. The Inquiry was launched in January 2004 and its report was published in December 2004. Taking forward the recommendations of the Inquiry will form part of the MPS's continued to commitment to tackle institutional racism.

Police

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions his Department has held with local authorities regarding the Police Reform II White Paper, Building Communities, Beating Crime, on (a) increasing accountability and (b) community and locally elected officials determining policing priorities; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: We had responses from, amongst others, the Association of Police Authorities (APA), Local Government Association, the Welsh LGA, the County Councils Network and 14 local authorities to the White Paper. Both ministers and officials have regular discussions with the APA and local government representatives on a variety of issues, including ways of strengthening the accountability of the police service. We will be consulting both police and local authorities over the details of the Government's plans to confer powers on local people to trigger action by community safety partners in response to persistent local problems. The community and locally elected representatives already have a significant say in determining policing priorities through Police Authorities, whose membership includes a majority of elected councillors. Police Authorities have a central duty to determine the policing priorities for the area in consultation with the local community.

Police

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department's contingent liability is for the potential cost of failure of the Airwave contract; what assessment he has made of the level of risk of failure of the Airwave contract; and if he will list the factors that he has identified could lead to a failure of the Airwave contract.

Hazel Blears: There are no contingent liabilities with regard to the Airwave contract. Roll-out of the Airwave network is now complete, with no operational, technological or health and safety issues to be resolved.

Police

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries occurred in police custody in London in each of the last five years.

Hazel Blears: The number of deaths during or following police contact in London for each of the last five years is as follows. All deaths relate to the Metropolitan Police area. There have been no deaths within the City of London Police area. The Home Office does not collate statistics on the number of injuries in police custody.
	
		
			  
		
		
			 19992000 16 deaths, 10 in police custody 
			 20002001 seven deaths, two in police custody 
			 20012002 nine deaths, three in police custody 
			 20022003 17 deaths, nine in police custody 
			 20032004 15 deaths, six in police custody

Police

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average cost to public funds, including national insurance contributions and pension contributions, of employing a (a) community warden or neighbourhood warden, (b) police community support officer and (c) police constable in England is expected to be in 200506.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Police

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was contributed to the Metropolitan Police by each London borough through the Metropolitan Police precept in each of the last three years; how much each borough is expected to contribute in the 200506 financial year; what these figures represent as a percentage of the overall budget of (a) the authority concerned and (b) the Metropolitan Police in each year; what the ratio of contribution to the precept by borough to number of police officers in post in the borough (i) was in respect of each borough in each year and (ii) is in respect of each borough in 200506; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: These are matters for the Metropolitan Police Authority and the Greater London Authority which determines the police precept. I will ensure that they receive a copy of the question and reply to my hon Friend directly in response to your concerns.

Police

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the level of efficiency savings his Department has required Hertfordshire constabulary to find in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: An efficiency target for the police service was introduced in 19992000. From that year until 200405 each Police authority was required to make efficiency gains each year of 2 per cent. of net revenue expenditure. A new target was set in Spending Review 2004. For the period from 200506 to 200708 authorities are required to make cumulative efficiency gains of 3 per cent. per year, half of the total to consist of cashable gains. Details of Hertfordshire's performance from 19992000 to 200405 (estimated) and the value of the target for 200506 are set out in the table.
	
		Efficiency targets and performance: Hertfordshire constabulary, 19992000 to 200708
		
			  19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 200506 
		
		
			 Net revenue expenditure ( million) 102.4 121.1 131.8 133.0 143.0 152.7 161.1 
			 Efficiency target (percentage) 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 
			 Efficiency target (value  million) 2.0 2.4 2.6 2.7 2.9 3.1 4.8 
			 Gains achieved (percentage)(81) 2.39 2.03 2.50 2.30 2.27 2.00  
			 Gains achieved ( million)(81) 2.45 2.46 3.30 3.06 3.25 3.1  
		
	
	(81)For 200405 the achievement figure is an estimate by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary based on the position at 31 December 2004. A final figure will be available later this year.
	Note:
	Net Revenue expenditure for 200607 and 200708, and the value of the efficiency target will be determined when a budget is set for those years.

Police

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's definition is of a police officer.

Hazel Blears: The term police officer is not defined in primary legislation, but it was used in the police conduct regulations 2004 (SI 2004/645), where it is defined in regulation 3(1) as a member of a police force or special constable.

Police

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the powers of the police in relation to illegal raves on private land.

Hazel Blears: Section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 allows police in certain circumstances to direct rave goers to leave an event. If
	they refuse, police are provided with a power of arrest and they also have powers to seize sound equipment in certain circumstances. The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 extended powers in relation to illegal raves taking place indoors and to make it an offence for a person given a direction under section 63 to attend any other trespassory rave within 24hours.

Police

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police patrol vehicles, (b) police vans, (c) unmarked police vehicles and (d) other police vehicles are available in Greater London; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 4 July 2005
	This information requested is not collected centrally.

Prisons

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the projected funding for prison education for (a) male young offenders, (b) male adult offenders, (c) female young offenders and (d) female adult offenders is for each year between 2005 and 2010, broken down by subject.

Fiona Mactaggart: The needs of offender learners are individual and vary considerably depending on the particular cohort in a particular prison establishment at a particular time. For the financial year 200506, the following table shows learning and skills funding, for offenders in custody, that can be assigned to a particular category and gender of offender as appropriate. The changing needs of offender learners means that this information cannot be projected beyond 200506, and information on subjects could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Young offenders 200506 funding () 
		
		
			 Male 18,443,567.00 
			 Female n/a 
			 Total male and female 18,443,567.00 
			   
			 Juveniles  
			 Male 9,832,187.00 
			 Female 534,246.00 
			 Total male and female 10,366,433.00 
			   
			 Adult  
			 Male 73,856,880.00 
			 Female 10,044,734.00 
			 Total male and female 83,901,614.00 
			   
			 Total  
			 Male 102,132,634.00 
			 Female 10,578,980.00 
			 Total male and female 112,711,614.00

Prisons

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many designated education hours were lost in the Prison Service in 200304 due to staff shortages.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Prison Service does not collect this information centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Prisons

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 170W, on prisons, on what grounds the Prison Service is appealing the Employment Tribunal decision; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The employment tribunal decision to which this question refers remains the subject of litigation and it would therefore not be appropriate to comment.

Prisons

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the private finance initiative contracts that exist between prisons and Jarvis plc.

Fiona Mactaggart: There are no private finance initiative contracts between Jarvis plc and prisons in England and Wales.

Prisons

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates there are in each (a) prison and (b) young offender institution in England and Wales, broken down by (i) parliamentary constituency and (ii) local authority area.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested, as recorded on the Prison Service IT system on 31 May 2005, is provided in the table. Information is not available by local authority area. A breakdown by constituency has therefore been provided.
	
		Population of prison establishment, by establishment and parliamentary constituency England and Wales, 31 May 2005
		
			 Constituency Establishment Population 
		
		
			 Arundel and South Downs Ford 530 
			 Aylesbury Aylesbury 379 
			 Banbury Bullingdon 974 
			 Bedford Bedford 463 
			 Berwick-upon-Tweed Acklington 866 
			 Berwick-upon-tweed Castington 383 
			 Birmingham Ladywood Birmingham 1,413 
			 Bishop Auckland Deerbolt 435 
			 Blaby Glen Parva 769 
			 Boston and Skegness North Sea Camp 292 
			 Bridgend Parc 959 
			 Bristol West Bristol 600 
			 Bromsgrove Blakenhurst 1,060 
			 Bromsgrove Brockhill 116 
			 Bromsgrove Hewell Grange 169 
			 Buckingham Grendon/Spring Hill 525 
			 Burton Dovegate 786 
			 Cambridgeshire North east Whitemoor 438 
			 Canterbury Canterbury 304 
			 Cardiff Central Cardiff 736 
			 Chelmsford West Chelmsford 575 
			 Chorley Garth 640 
			 Chorley Wymott 1,042 
			 City of Durham Durham 643 
			 City of Durham Frankland 715 
			 City of Durham Low Newton 272 
			 Copeland Haverigg 545 
			 Daventry Onley 504 
			 Derbyshire South Foston Hall 210 
			 Derbyshire West Sudbury 540 
			 Devizes Erlestoke 421 
			 Devon West and Torridge Dartmoor 618 
			 Don Valley Lindholme 817 
			 Don Valley Moorland Open 217 
			 Don Valley Moorland 730 
			 Doncaster Central Doncaster 1,044 
			 Dorset North Guys Marsh 565 
			 Dorset South Portland 392 
			 Dorset South The Verne 585 
			 Dorset South The Weare 324 
			 Dorset West Dorchester 253 
			 Dover Dover 305 
			 Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush Wormwood Scrubs 1,247 
			 Eccles Forest Bank 1,037 
			 Elmet Wealstun 787 
			 Elmet Wetherby 349 
			 Erith and Thamesmead Belmarsh 917 
			 Exeter Exeter 532 
			 Faversham and Kent Mid East Sutton Park 97 
			 Feltham and Heston Feltham 596 
			 Fylde Kirkham 530 
			 Gloucester Gloucester 281 
			 Gosport Haslar 122 
			 Haltemprice and Howden Everthorpe 462 
			 Haltemprice and Howden The Wolds 293 
			 Harborough Gartree 411 
			 Henley Huntercombe 351 
			 Hertfordshire and South West The Mount 702 
			 Hull East Hull 1,058 
			 Huntingdon Littlehey 695 
			 Isle of Wight Albany 519 
			 Isle of Wight Camp Hill 569 
			 Isle of Wight Parkhurst 507 
			 Islington North Holloway 444 
			 Islington South and Finsbury Pentonville 1,190 
			 Lancaster and Wyre Lancaster 239 
			 Lancaster and Wyre Lancaster Farms 514 
			 eeds West Leeds 1,208 
			 Leicester South Leicester 343 
			 Leigh Hindley 402 
			 Lewes Lewes 528 
			 Lincoln Lincoln 478 
			 Liverpool Walton Altcourse 903 
			 Liverpool Walton Liverpool 1,392 
			 Maidstone and the Weald Maidstone 545 
			 Manchester Blackley Manchester 1,247 
			 Medway Cookham Wood 164 
			 Medway Rochester 388 
			 Milton Keynes South West Woodhill 766 
			 Mole Valley Send 217 
			 Monmouth Usk/Prescoed 417 
			 Newark Ranby 1,026 
			 Norfolk South West Wayland 705 
			 Northavon Ashfield 280 
			 Northavon Eastwood Park 280 
			 Northavon Leyhill 495 
			 Norwich North Norwich 793 
			 Nottingham East Nottingham 509 
			 Peterborough Peterborough 338 
			 Portsmouth South Kingston 172 
			 Preston Preston 604 
			 Rayleigh Bullwood Hall 142 
			 Reading East Reading 280 
			 Reigate Downview 235 
			 Reigate Highdown 743 
			 Richmond Northallerton 164 
			 Richmond Park Latchmere House 204 
			 Rochdale Buckley Hall 341 
			 Rugby and Kenilworth Rye Hill 586 
			 Rushcliffe Whatton 354 
			 Rutland and Melton Ashwell 545 
			 Rutland and Melton Stocken 618 
			 Selby Askham Grange 98 
			 Sherwood Lowdham Grange 501 
			 Shrewsbury and Atcham Shrewsbury 259 
			 Shropshire North Stoke Heath 649 
			 Sittingbourne and Sheppey Elmley 986 
			 Sittingbourne and Sheppey Standford Hill 450 
			 Sittingbourne and Sheppey Swaleside 777 
			 Sleaford and North Hykeham Morton Hall 317 
			 Spelthorne Bronzefield 431 
			 Stafford Stafford 678 
			 Staffordshire Moorlands Werrington 127 
			 Staffordshire South Brinsford 469 
			 Staffordshire South Featherstone 602 
			 Stockton North Holme House 987 
			 Stockton South Kirklevington Grange217 
			 Stone Drake Hall 286 
			 Streatham Brixton 798 
			 Suffolk Coastal Hollesley Bay 309 
			 Suffolk Coastal Warren Hill 206 
			 Suffolk West Edmunds Hill 154 
			 Suffolk West Highpoint 795 
			 Surrey Heath Coldingley 385 
			 Swansea West Swansea 409 
			 Tamworth Swinfen Hall 551 
			 Tatton Styal 397 
			 Tooting Wandsworth 1,428 
			 Totnes Channings Wood 656 
			 Tunbridge Wells Blantyre House 113 
			 Wakefield New Hall 325 
			 Wakefield Wakefield 553 
			 Warrington North Risley 1,060 
			 Warrington North Thorn Cross 235 
			 Waveney Blundeston 462 
			 Wellingborough Wellingborough 544 
			 Wells Shepton Mallet 180 
			 Winchester Winchester 690 
			 Worchestershire Mid Long Lartin 442 
			 Yorkshire East Full Sutton 600 
			 Total  76,141

Prisons

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the number of work opportunities in prisons.

Fiona Mactaggart: Work for prisoners in prison can largely be divided into three main areas. These include activities that take place within prison industry workshops; work to service and maintain prisons, for example, working in kitchens and laundries; and, various land based activities such as market garden work, ground maintenance and landscaping.
	There are ongoing plans to increase both work opportunities and the relevance of such activities for prisoners in all these areas. These plans include additional workshops at a number of prisons; increasing the number of prisoners employed in land based activities; and, increased training and qualifications across a large number of work activities. The plans recognise that providing work opportunities for prisoners in prison is important in a number of ways. Such opportunities can introduce and maintain the work ethic; help occupy prisoners' time in custody constructively and can make a significant contribution to the resettlement agenda.

Public Protection Panels

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Multi-agency Public Protection Panel Arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 16 June 2005
	Multi-agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) are regularly reviewed at a local level by Strategic Management Boards (SMB), formed of senior staff from the Police, Probation and Prison Service. Since 200102, each SMB has produced an annual report on the MAPPA arrangements. These reports show that the arrangements have made a significant difference to the way the public is protected from the risks posed by sexual and violent offenders. I have also commissioned an independent study of MAPPA by De Montfort University, due to be published later this year, and a joint inspection by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, starting in September. All of these reports will be made available in the Library once they are published.

Shooting

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State 
	(1)  for the Home Department whether he plans to review the guidelines on the shooting of foxes and ground game at night;
	(2)  whether he plans to introduce an age limit for the shooting of foxes and ground game at night;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with the (a) British Association for Shooting and Conservation and (b) other shooting organisations about the guidelines relating to the shooting of foxes and ground game at night.

Hazel Blears: I understand that Defra has no plans to review the current policy on shooting of foxes and ground game at night. Consequently there has been no need to consult stakeholders. Under the provisions of the Firearms Act 1968 a person under 14 may not be granted a firearm certificate in any circumstances. A person between 14 and 17 may be granted a certificate in order to possess a firearm provided that the police are satisfied that the individual concerned is fit to possess the gun without being a danger to the public safety and has a good reason for possessing it. We are currently considering the many responses to the consultation paper we issued last year on how our firearms controls and laws might be revised.

South Wales Police

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many community support officers there are in South Wales Police H Division; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The deployment of Community Support Officers (CSOs) is an operational matter for the Chief Constable (Barbara Wilding). The Home Office Police Service Strength Statistical Bulletin, which will be published later this month , will provide data on the number of (CSOs) in each police force at 31 March 2005. Information on Community Support Officer (CSO) strength is not collected at Basic Command Unit level.

South Wales Police

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes there have been in police numbers in South Wales Police H Division since 1997.

Hazel Blears: Information on strength at basic Command Unit (BCU) level is collected annually and reflects the position at the end of March for each year. Information on BCU strength is only available from 2002 and is set out in the table. The deployment of officers to BCUs is a matter for the Chief Constable (Barbara Wilding) and within the H Swansea Divison deployment of officers is a matter for the Divisional Commander.
	Information on the number of police officers in BCUs for 31 March 2005 will be published later this month.
	
		H Swansea DivisionPolice Numbers 2002 to 2004
		
			 Year (as at 31 March) Number of Police Officers 
		
		
			 2002(82) 464 
			 2003(83) 500 
			 2004(83) 498 
		
	
	(82)HM Inspectorate of constabulary database
	(83)Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate, Police Statistics

Stolen Cars

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of cars stolen in England and Wales for sale in foreign countries since 1990.

Hazel Blears: The recorded crime statistics do not have details of the number of cars stolen for sale in foreign countries.

Tetra

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police authorities are not using Tetra.

Hazel Blears: Airwave, the new police radio system, is now available to all 51 police forces in England, Wales and Scotland. Airwave currently has over 125,000 users, and is expected to be fully operational in most forces by the summer of 2006.

Transsexual Prisoners

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department will publish guidelines on the treatment of transsexual prisoners.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Prison Service now hopes to publish these guidelines later this year.

Vehicle Registration/Taxation

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what range of penalties is available for conviction of individuals who fail to register their vehicles in their name.

Paul Goggins: Following summary conviction for failure to supply the correct details for registration, there is a possible maximum fine at level three on the standard scale (currently 1,000). Community rehabilitation and curfew orders are also available under the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
	Using an incorrectly registered vehicle became a separate offence on 1 July, likewise with a maximum level three fine on summary conviction. A fixed penalty of 30 may also be offered.

Violent Crime Bill

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the provisions of the Violent Crime Bill relating to replica guns include the sale of (a) such guns and (b) plastic ammunition from catalogues from companies based (i) in the UK and (ii)abroad.

Hazel Blears: Clause 30 of the Violent Crime Reduction Bill makes it an offence to manufacture, sell or import a realistic imitation firearm whose appearance makes it indistinguishable, for all practical purposes, from a particular make or model of firearm or from a firearm falling within an existing category of firearm. The ban does not cover plastic ammunition. It will apply to all methods of sale. People who buy from companies based abroad will not be able to import their purchases.

Volunteering

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many volunteers have been (a) recruited and (b) identified by the Experience Corps since its inception; and of those how many (a) have been actively volunteering as a result of being identified and (b) were already actively volunteering.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 4 July 2005
	The Experience Corps explicitly targeted individuals with little or no previous experience of volunteering. Whilst the Home Office has not continued to monitor volunteers within the Experience Corps, the organisation states that a significant number of these volunteers are still engaged in a range of volunteering opportunities.

Weapons (Possession/Amnesty)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people have been convicted of the possession of an illegal weapon in each London borough since 1996;
	(2)  how many people have been convicted of gun crimes in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many people aged 14 to 24 years old havebeen convicted of carrying an illegal knife since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The information contained in the first table gives the number of offenders found guilty of Possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, by London borough, 1996 to 2003.
	It is not possible to identify the number of offenders found guilty of gun crime as the individual circumstances of the offence are not collected.
	The information contained in the second table gives the number of offenders aged 14 to 24, found guilty of having an article with a blade or point in a public place, England and Wales 1997 to 2003.
	Statistics on court proceedings for 2004 will be published in the autumn.
	
		Number of offenders(84)found guilty of possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or reasonable excuse(85), by police force area and magistrates court/London borough, 1996 to 2003
		
			 Magistrates courts/borough 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Inner London magistrates courts(86)   
			 City of London Police 
			 Guildhall Justice Rooms 15 8 3 5 2 6 15 10 
			  
			 Metropolitan Police
			 Bow Street 50 45 40 23 26 25 41 28 
			 Camberwell Green/Tower Bridge 64 84 81 89 88 123 155 118 
			 Greenwich and Woolwich 54 58 69 44 57 67 69 63 
			 Highbury Corner 115 113 89 49 71 52 103 83 
			 Horseferry Road 37 31 49 21 37 37 55 40 
			 Marylebone 40 39 28 22 2 1 2 2 
			 South Western 31 44 33 22 28 51 50 48 
			 Thames 37 39 9 48 79 130 141 148 
			 West London 15 39 24 28 39 39 63 50 
			 Inner London Juvenile Courts(87) 72 4   
			  
			 Outer London boroughs
			 Metropolitan Police 
			 Barking and Dagenham 15 16 22 10 21 33 47 49 
			 Barnet 18 13 10 14 18 24 26 27 
			 Bexley 14 14 21 13 17 10 22 14 
			 Brent 27 39 26 41 41 50 52 37 
			 Bromley 8 13 14 13 12 25 31 15 
			 Croydon 32 58 49 33 38 48 66 45 
			 Ealing 32 29 27 26 29 39 47 30 
			 Enfield 12 24 26 13 15 24 42 45 
			 Haringey 34 44 36 24 40 50 77 70 
			 Harrow 13 14 7 5 8 30 18 18 
			 Havering 8 15 9 15 17 21 33 31 
			 Hillingdon 26 20 26 20 18 25 41 29 
			 Hounslow 9 26 23 23 25 23 23 21 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 12 20 16 15 14 19 18 18 
			 Merton 16 29 19 11 12 19 15 12 
			 Newham 36 31 32 41 37 71 86 89 
			 Redbridge 18 22 29 15 17 28 37 44 
			 Richmond upon Thames 11 7 3 7 7 18 13 10 
			 Sutton 9 12 12 11 12 15 13 18 
			 Waltham Forest 43 33 30 17 30 48 69 34 
			 Total Metropolitan Police 908 975 859 713 855 1,145 1,455 1,236 
			 Total Greater London 923 983 862 718 857 1,151 1,470 1,246 
		
	
	(84)These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(85)Includes possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or reasonable excuse on school premises.
	(86)Information held centrally does not allow a breakdown of cases by borough in the inner London area.
	(87)Cases included with adult courts from 1998.
	
		Number of offenders(88)aged 14 to 24 years found guilty at all courts for having an article with a blade or point in a public place(89), England and Wales 1997 to 2003
		
			  Found guilty 
		
		
			 1997 1,607 
			 1998 1,752 
			 1999 1,622 
			 2000 1,799 
			 2001 2,388 
			 2002 2,606 
			 2003 2,552 
		
	
	(88)These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(89)Includes: having an article with a blade or point on school premises

Weapons (Possession/Amnesty)

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many weapons have been handed in to police in the High Wycombe area under the recent amnesty; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 27 June 2005
	The information requested is not collected centrally.

Young Offenders

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of provision for young offenders; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 16 June 2005
	The key measure of the effectiveness of the youth justice system is a reduction in the rate of re-offending. To measure the extent to which offenders re-offend we measure whether or not they are reconvicted within one year. Our target is to reduce juvenile re-offending rates by 5 per cent. by 2004.The latest results, published in February 2005, show that the rate of juvenile reconvictions has reduced by 4.9 per cent. between 1997 and 2003. This is good progress towards our target and evidence that this Government's policies are making an impact.

Young Offenders

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men, (b) women and (c) young offenders are in prison; and how many on average were in prison in each category in each of the last 10 years.

Fiona Mactaggart: On 31 May 2005 there were 61,416 adult males aged 21 years and over, 4,017 adult females aged 21 years and over, and 10,708 young persons aged under 21 held in prison establishments in England and Wales, as recorded on the Prison Service IT system. Averages for each of the last 10 years, as recorded on the Prison Service IT system, are provided in the following table. Figures for young persons include some 21-year-olds who have not been reclassified as adults, and includes both male and female inmates.
	
		Average population in prison establishments(90),by age group and sex -- England and Wales
		
			  Adult males Adult females Young persons 
		
		
			 1995 40,628 1,702 8,630 
			 1996 43,649 1,935 9,696 
			 1997 47,979 2,297 10,838 
			 1998 51,191 2,650 11,456 
			 1999 50,700 2,781 11,289 
			 2000 50,685 2,851 11,065 
			 2001 52,142 3,216 10,942 
			 2002 55,708 3,681 11,396 
			 2003 58,221 3,869 10,947 
			 2004 59,897 3,950 10,809 
		
	
	(90)Excluding police cells